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12 meeting to order for Wcomaku County

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Council Legislative Session 2026-9

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for September 15, 2026.

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This time we will have a moment of

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silence. If you could uh see

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» Thank you. Those you'd like to stand and

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join us in the pledge of allegiance,

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please do.

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I pledge algiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the

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republic for it stands one nation under

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God indivisible with liberty and justice

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for all

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» entertain a motion from uh council to

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approve the consent agenda

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second any discussion or corrections

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seeing none all those in favor say I

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>> post motion carry consent agenda passes

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unanimously. This time we have a

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proclamation to recognize the month of

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October as suicide prevention month. We

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have representatives

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from the Life Crisis Center. Uh

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Councilman Josh Hastings is going to

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read the proclamation. Is everyone here?

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Are they are they here today? We're

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looking for an Emily Miller or a Carly

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Rue.

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» Maybe they're just running late.

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>> Yep. Josh, if you'd like to go ahead,

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we'll just go ahead and read it aloud

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for them.

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Yep, we're good.

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Can see everybody today.

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[clears throat] This is a proclamation

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for National Suicide Prevention Month,

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whereas suicide remains the 10th leading

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cause of death in the United States and

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the second leading cause of death among

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individuals between ages 10 to 34.

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Whereas over 90% of people who die by

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suicide have a diagnosible and treatable

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mental health condition, although often

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that condition is not recognized or

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treated. And whereas organizations such

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as the American Foundation for Suicide

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Prevention, are dedicated to saving

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lives [clears throat] and bringing hope

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to those who are affected by suicide

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through education, advocacy, and

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resources for those who have lost

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someone to suicide or who struggle. And

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whereas the American Foundation for

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Suicide Prevention urges that we

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recognize suicide as a preventable

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public health problem, address

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disparities in access to mental health

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care, promote awareness that suicide

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most often occurs when stressors exceed

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someone's coping abilities, and

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implement strategies to improve access

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to quality mental health, substance

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abuse, and suicide prevention services

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and programs. Now therefore, the

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Wakamaku County Council hereby

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designates September as National Suicide

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Prevention Month in Wakamaku County,

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done this 15th day of September, 2026,

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signed by the entire Wakamaku County

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Council.

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» That's them. Yeah, that's them right

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there.

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>> I don't have my glasses on, so I can't

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see if folks here for suicide

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prevention.

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Yeah,

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>> I just read it out. Uh, you're welcome.

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Come on up here. Yeah. No, I got

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[clears throat]

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>> fine. Maybe you

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>> I'm not that wicked.

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>> We just uh just recognized it and I just

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read through the proclamation. Um, I

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want if if anyone wants to make some

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comments u and then we can maybe take a

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picture.

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>> Oh, okay. Yeah, sure.

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>> First of all, I just want to thank you

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all for this. It's very important. um

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National Suicide Prevention Month. Um I

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feel like suicide has affected a lot of

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people and I just thank you for bringing

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this to um everyone's attention. It's a very important thing we talk

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about and um just shows how important

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our work is. So thank you all so much.

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[applause]

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» Yeah.

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» [clears throat]

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>> Thank you so much.

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>> Thank you very much.

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>> Thank you.

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» Good morning, Mr. Benson.

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>> Morning, Mr. President, County Council.

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Um, we're here on for a

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public hearing on legislative bill

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emergency legislative bill number

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2026-11.

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It's an emergency act to add chapter 49

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to the Wakamo County code titled nursing

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home to establish rules and regulations

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on the operation of the Wakamo County

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nursing home, the appointment of an

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administrator for the nursing home and

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the establishment of a nursing home

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commission to aid in maintaining good

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government uh health and welfare of the

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county.

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>> Thank you, Mr. Benson. This time we open

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the floor for a public hearing on

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legislative bill number 2026-11.

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If you have any comments that you'd like

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to make in reference to this specific

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legislation, come to the podium. Please

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state your name, your county residence,

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and your concerns.

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>> Jim Atkins, Wakcom County, District 2.

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Uh I know there's been a lot of uh talk,

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meetings, and concerns about the nursing

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home, and hopefully we're going to get

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most of that taken care of today.

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However, there's two things that I'd

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like the council to consider before they

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vote on this legislation today. The

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first would be section 49.2

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where it states the county executive or

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the county council with the affirmative

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vote of five members of the county

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council shall have the authority to

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terminate the nursing home

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administrator.

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I'd like the council to consider an

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amendment to that to read the county

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executive andor county council and this

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is the change or addition with a

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majority recommen recommendation from

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the commission.

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Then an affirmative vote of five members

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of the county council shall have the

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authority to terminate the nursing home

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administrator.

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This gives a little bit of power to the

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uh

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commission and lets them notify the

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council if there is a problem and it

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needs to be addressed. The second item

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I'd like you to consider is 49.5

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which is the membership portion stating

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who will be a member of this commission.

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I'd also like to suggest that the

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commission be changed from seven members

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to eight with the eighth member being a

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non voting member and that member being

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the nursing home administrator added to

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that. So that that person is involved in

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all the meetings that the commission has

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but they do not have a vote but they are

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able to educate the commission on topics

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that are going on. Thank you.

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>> Thank you Mr. Hens.

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» Good morning. Uh Joe Venosa District 7

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Wamiko County. Um,

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you know, some of you know I teach

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history for a living. And so the phrase

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history repeats itself sort of grinds

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our gears cuz it's sort of considered

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overly simplistic. But, uh, if you've

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looked at the nursing home issue in our

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county, it really is a situation where

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history is often repeated itself. Um, I

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watched and read the minutes of the

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November 2018 county council work

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session where specifically issues of the

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nursing home came up then. And I think

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it's long overdue that we're finally

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putting some needed oversight. As one

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person in the community put it, this

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legislation

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is not punishment. It's not overly

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latigious. It's protection. It's

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protection for our seniors. It's

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protection for the staff who put in the

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effort to take care of our most

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vulnerable every day. And more

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importantly, it brings a process forward

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that future councils and future

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executives can work with. So I commend

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the council on making this a priority. I

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want to commend delegate shares sample

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use as well for her efforts and helping

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to guide some of the concepts behind it.

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Uh that being said, I would like to

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point out one specific uh issue that I just thought might merit

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consideration. This is section 49.2

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section D. Uh it's at the very bottom.

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Uh it says the nursing home director

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shall fully cooperate and provide all

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reasonable information requested by the

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Wakcomo Nursing Home Commission. I

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absolutely concur. I just think there

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has to be some specificity as a timeline

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for cooperating with requests because

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the concern that I have is that in the

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future if there are issues it might be a

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situation where information is is just

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slow walked where it's not given

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priority and they use that as a loophole

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to not comply. So, I think that merits

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some slight consideration. Um, that

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being said, again, I want to thank the

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community for helping guide the

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conversation in this. Many of us came

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out several days ago uh to the First

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Baptist Church. And the overwhelming

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consensus in our county, I believe, is

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to move forward with this necessary

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protection. It will have longstanding

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positive impact, I believe, on our

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community and our senior citizens. And

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honestly, I don't understand why anyone

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would be against basic transparency and

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us as citizens through the council and

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the public having more oversight. I

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think it's win-win for everybody and I

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look forward to seeing it be

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implemented. Thank you so much.

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[clears throat]

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» Good morning, Wendy Catlin, a resident

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of Wcomo County. I've been thinking back

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over the past six weeks of whatifs and

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how things may have turned out after

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concerns were brought forth with

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reference to the Wakcomo nursing unit.

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What if our county executive had said,

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"I've heard your concerns and I will

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look into the matter." That didn't

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happen. The very next day, August 5th,

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she made a statement to the Baltimore

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Sun and I quote, "The nursing home has

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become a talking point in local

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politics." Now, I was at the August 4th

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council meeting, and what I heard was

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one person after another talk of how the

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new administrator had come in and turned

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the place upside down. Everything they

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were doing was wrong. Everything the

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past administrator had done was wrong,

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and how she was going to straighten it

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all out. I heard concerns of being short

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staffed and how this potentially could

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and would affect the precious souls who

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live there. I heard of intimidation and

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I heard of resignations and yes some

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terminations.

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I have thought what if the new

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administrator had come in and said we

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will all work together to keep Wcomaka

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nursing home the number one long-term

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care facility in Salsbury and the lower

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eastern shore of Maryland. That didn't

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happen. What if the county executive had

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not sent her two henchmen, Steve Lake

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and Corey Houston, over to the nursing

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home immediately to run interference for

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the new administrator instead of them

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going in and saying, "We are here to

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00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,560
help rather than belittle, berate, and

277
00:11:44,560 --> 00:11:47,839
bully the employees on a daily basis."

278
00:11:47,839 --> 00:11:50,560
One, if not both of them have been there

279
00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:52,959
almost every day since this began. I

280
00:11:52,959 --> 00:11:55,600
have a question. If this administrator

281
00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,480
is so highly qualified and doing amazing

282
00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,640
things, then how come she needs to have

283
00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,160
someone there holding her hand every

284
00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:04,880
day? What if at her press conference,

285
00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,360
the county executive and Mr. Leaken had

286
00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,040
said, "We have looked at the financials

287
00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,440
and realized there is a huge amount of

288
00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,240
money due the nursing home and know this

289
00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,519
has been an issue since it was raised at

290
00:12:17,519 --> 00:12:20,880
the November 20th, 2018 council meeting

291
00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,120
and several times since. and we are here

292
00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,079
to help the Wcoma nursing home try and

293
00:12:26,079 --> 00:12:28,639
recoup some of this. No, that didn't

294
00:12:28,639 --> 00:12:31,040
happen. Instead, it was statement after

295
00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:32,639
statement of what a terrible job the

296
00:12:32,639 --> 00:12:34,959
past administrator had done. I might

297
00:12:34,959 --> 00:12:37,680
add, since then, the past administrator

298
00:12:37,680 --> 00:12:39,360
has been continuously drugged through

299
00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:40,720
the mud, [clears throat] and she doesn't

300
00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,360
deserve that. See, if no one has tried

301
00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,079
to do anything about it since 2018, then

302
00:12:46,079 --> 00:12:48,639
why is it so important now?

303
00:12:48,639 --> 00:12:50,560
What if at the town hall meeting the new

304
00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:53,440
administrator who was invited to attend

305
00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,120
had come and tried to answer some

306
00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,360
questions or talk of concerns the

307
00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,680
community had instead of leaving the

308
00:12:59,680 --> 00:13:01,760
county executive to face the many many

309
00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,720
people in attendance? [clears throat]

310
00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:06,959
What if employee resignations stopped

311
00:13:06,959 --> 00:13:09,120
these past six weeks instead of

312
00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,160
continuing, which they are a lot of

313
00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,760
whatifs, but the one that strikes or

314
00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:17,839
sticks out the most is what if the

315
00:13:17,839 --> 00:13:19,839
county executive had not hired the only

316
00:13:19,839 --> 00:13:21,680
one who applied for the administrative

317
00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:24,320
position? Would this chaos not be upon

318
00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:26,560
us? I want to quote what our county

319
00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:29,120
executive said at the town hall meeting.

320
00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:31,040
The good news is we all want what's

321
00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,360
best. We all need to get in the same

322
00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:35,760
boat and grow together. That's what we

323
00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:39,120
need to do. Look around.

324
00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,519
This is the boat. There's always room

325
00:13:41,519 --> 00:13:43,440
for one more.

326
00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,320
>> What if you come and get on the boat?

327
00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,279
Good old Dr. Phil says, "For every

328
00:13:49,279 --> 00:13:52,560
conflict, someone needs to be a hero.

329
00:13:52,560 --> 00:13:55,360
Who's going to be the hero for the Wcoma

330
00:13:55,360 --> 00:14:02,329
nursing home?" Thank you. Thank you.

331
00:14:02,339 --> 00:14:02,994
» [cough]

332
00:14:02,994 --> 00:14:06,069
[clears throat]

333
00:14:06,079 --> 00:14:08,000
» Good morning. My name is Joe White,

334
00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,519
Wakamako County. Uh, I'm here today to

335
00:14:11,519 --> 00:14:13,680
support the emergency legislation, not

336
00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:15,760
in its entirety, but in the fact that

337
00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:17,920
you're here to to pass this today. There

338
00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:19,920
are some things I' I'd like for you to

339
00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:21,519
consider as you're about to go through

340
00:14:21,519 --> 00:14:24,320
your your public deliberations. And one

341
00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,120
amendment I'd like for you to consider.

342
00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,199
The nursing home emergency legislation

343
00:14:29,199 --> 00:14:31,680
should be about several items and we

344
00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,199
need to make sure we don't lose sight of

345
00:14:33,199 --> 00:14:35,360
this. We need to protect the residents

346
00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:38,240
who call it home now and in the near

347
00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,760
future. We do need to protect the county

348
00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,639
taxpayers from the liability, the

349
00:14:44,639 --> 00:14:47,040
lawsuits. It can come from a lot of

350
00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,279
areas. We've we've heard possibly from

351
00:14:49,279 --> 00:14:51,040
patients, possibly from the director

352
00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:52,959
herself. We heard that from the county

353
00:14:52,959 --> 00:14:55,839
executive. We need to make sure that the

354
00:14:55,839 --> 00:14:57,600
county taxpayers are are not stepping

355
00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,560
into a quagmire.

356
00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,279
We also have heard from the de deputy

357
00:15:03,279 --> 00:15:05,600
director of administration that there is

358
00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,240
financial concerns and referencing as

359
00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,279
some other folks have as well the 2018

360
00:15:11,279 --> 00:15:13,440
council meeting from November. There

361
00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,120
were there was a loan made back at that

362
00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,040
time that has still not been paid back.

363
00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,040
We do need to be accountable to the

364
00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:22,480
taxpayers of how we're going to approach

365
00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:24,160
the the nursing home. I thought Dr.

366
00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,320
Venosa actually brought up a good point.

367
00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,320
If you're going to talk about audits,

368
00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:30,160
there needs to be timelines. We've we've

369
00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,600
seen this in last two years. So,

370
00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:35,199
although that wasn't something that I

371
00:15:35,199 --> 00:15:36,480
was considering, I thought that that was

372
00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,040
an excellent point. The one that I

373
00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,839
wanted to talk about was 49.2, which Mr.

374
00:15:41,839 --> 00:15:43,440
Atkins brought up and he had an

375
00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:45,040
interesting perspective that I hadn't

376
00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:46,399
thought of,

377
00:15:46,399 --> 00:15:48,480
>> but I don't think the county council

378
00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:52,320
should blanket have the ability to fire

379
00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,240
the nursing home director simply with a

380
00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,800
5 to2 vote. I think that's a precedent

381
00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,519
that's not there now, although maybe

382
00:15:59,519 --> 00:16:01,680
should be considered in the future, but

383
00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:03,920
it's not there for any other department.

384
00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,480
But if there is a commission and it was

385
00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,480
agreed back in 2018 there should be a

386
00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:09,839
commission and I've heard the county

387
00:16:09,839 --> 00:16:12,079
executive support having a commission

388
00:16:12,079 --> 00:16:13,519
and the commission much like the

389
00:16:13,519 --> 00:16:16,079
planning and zoning may may want to do

390
00:16:16,079 --> 00:16:19,040
something then I do think it should be considered. I thought Mr.

391
00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,680
Atkins had an excellent point.

392
00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:25,120
The other thing from 2018

393
00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,199
that was brought up at that at that

394
00:16:27,199 --> 00:16:29,040
meeting, that work session was about

395
00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:31,440
modernizing the nursing home. And from a

396
00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,519
business standpoint, if you're going to

397
00:16:33,519 --> 00:16:35,360
have something that could be an asset or

398
00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:38,160
a liability, and in 8 years, we've not

399
00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,399
had a comprehensive plan to update it or

400
00:16:40,399 --> 00:16:42,480
turn part of it into an assisted living

401
00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,680
facility. Why? We're looking at

402
00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,720
there only being 2/3 of the bids taken.

403
00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:50,720
When my grandmother was there years ago,

404
00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:52,880
this where she wanted to go, she had to

405
00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,279
wait for a bed. So, if this was a

406
00:16:55,279 --> 00:16:57,120
restaurant, we'd be asking, why aren't

407
00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,120
we filling up all the tables? So, I do

408
00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,040
think we need to consider that. So,

409
00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:02,720
please consider removing that one line

410
00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,199
for 49.2. Maybe making Mr. Atkins

411
00:17:05,199 --> 00:17:10,000
adjustment would be good. Thanks,

412
00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,280
>> Mr. White.

413
00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:18,720
>> My name is Jackie Thomas.

414
00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:20,959
And uh I've been going to the nursing

415
00:17:20,959 --> 00:17:24,400
home for a while cuz Miss Jean Morris is

416
00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:29,520
in there. Um I think that

417
00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:34,160
we should grow up and work together cuz

418
00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:40,240
the whole town is against each other. We know we got people in there. I've

419
00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:44,000
been going there for a while and

420
00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,960
like they said it was short-handed.

421
00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:51,039
It wasn't clean like it should be and I

422
00:17:51,039 --> 00:17:54,000
guess somebody decided to change it

423
00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,720
which it should have been changed.

424
00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,440
I don't get on the bandwagon. I've been

425
00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:02,880
going in there every day watching stuff

426
00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:06,080
and it smells better, the food is

427
00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,880
better. And um like I said, we got our

428
00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,840
own that was in the streets. Miss Jean

429
00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,200
Morris is in there. But I don't see

430
00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,840
nobody really,

431
00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,160
you know, going to see her. But I go see

432
00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,640
her. Check the roster. I've been in

433
00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,160
there.

434
00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,640
But I'm just saying,

435
00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,200
you can't change. The lady can't change

436
00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,760
overnight. Just like it didn't change

437
00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,080
from the past. That should have been

438
00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:37,520
taken care of long before we fighting

439
00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,440
each other in the streets. Cuz that's

440
00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,360
what we're doing. We fighting each other

441
00:18:41,360 --> 00:18:44,559
in the streets. We people that don't

442
00:18:44,559 --> 00:18:46,960
even know what's really going on should

443
00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,120
go visit the nursing home. They should

444
00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:51,840
have visited a long time ago cuz I made

445
00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,000
complaints about the bathroom and Miss

446
00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:58,160
Jean's room wasn't clean. I did that. I

447
00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:01,120
did that. And when I looked, the woman

448
00:19:01,120 --> 00:19:03,360
came right in and cleaned it. But I'm

449
00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:06,080
just saying, stop listening to

450
00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,200
everything. Go visit yourself. Make a

451
00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,240
decision on yourself. Don't listen to

452
00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,280
all this hearsay stuff. Go visit the

453
00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:17,280
nursing home and when you see something

454
00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:19,760
wrong, write it down and report it.

455
00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:23,440
Don't just pile on. Do it yourself like

456
00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,520
I'm doing. I've been in there since this

457
00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:27,840
happened almost every other day,

458
00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:30,160
checking, watching, seeing what's going

459
00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,840
on. Y'all got to do it yourself. We keep

460
00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,280
going by hearsay stuff. We the nursing

461
00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:40,320
home is important to black and whites

462
00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:43,840
and we want it to be

463
00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,160
correct. And I know I work for a

464
00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:50,559
facility at Maple Shade. People if you

465
00:19:50,559 --> 00:19:53,280
if a person got a scratch or anything,

466
00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,280
we had to write up a report and it had

467
00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,440
to go up to the state. I don't know

468
00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,160
what's the state doing. I don't know. I

469
00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:01,919
can't say what they didn't do right or

470
00:20:01,919 --> 00:20:04,799
what they did do right. But I don't

471
00:20:04,799 --> 00:20:06,960
think the state was involved as much as

472
00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:10,320
they should have been because if it was,

473
00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:11,760
we shouldn't have had to go through

474
00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,080
this. It [clears throat] it got people

475
00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,480
complaining and and people talking stuff

476
00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,120
they don't even know.

477
00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:23,039
So what I'm saying, we got to get

478
00:20:23,039 --> 00:20:27,039
together, make this Sbury Nursing Home

479
00:20:27,039 --> 00:20:29,840
the best place, cuz it is a good place.

480
00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,240
It is. We just can't tear it down

481
00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,960
because I've been in there a lot and I

482
00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,679
know the first people in there and I

483
00:20:37,679 --> 00:20:40,799
know the second people in there now.

484
00:20:40,799 --> 00:20:42,640
You know, we can't make decisions

485
00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,039
because we don't know what's going on.

486
00:20:45,039 --> 00:20:48,400
And that's we as a community go in there

487
00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,720
and see for yourself. Everybody got

488
00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,799
different opinion.

489
00:20:52,799 --> 00:20:56,080
>> I'm not giving them a a thing yet.

490
00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:56,960
>> Thank you.

491
00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:59,520
>> I'm not giving them a a pass yet. I'm

492
00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,240
just watching and seeing and taking

493
00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:04,880
notes.

494
00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:06,640
>> Mr. President,

495
00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:07,679
>> yes.

496
00:21:07,679 --> 00:21:10,080
>> I need for them to stop and not mention

497
00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,600
anybody any patient name in that nursing

498
00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,679
home for a hippo violation.

499
00:21:15,679 --> 00:21:17,840
>> There's a point of order that no no uh

500
00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,159
patients name should be mentioned

501
00:21:20,159 --> 00:21:22,159
>> during these comments.

502
00:21:22,159 --> 00:21:23,840
>> So, we appreciate that. Thank you very

503
00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:25,840
much.

504
00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:26,880
>> Lord have mercy.

505
00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:27,919
>> You should have said that.

506
00:21:27,919 --> 00:21:32,470
>> Excuse me. Thank you.

507
00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:34,720
» Um, good morning. Good morning, council.

508
00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:36,080
My name is Monica Brooks, president of

509
00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:39,120
Wakamako County NAACP and also a

510
00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:40,720
resident of of course of Wakamako

511
00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:44,960
County. Um, I do agree that we need to

512
00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,600
make this plan comprehensively that um,

513
00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:49,200
this is for the betterment of all of our

514
00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,960
community and everyone should be um, um,

515
00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:57,679
encouraged to to um, support. Um I also

516
00:21:57,679 --> 00:22:00,240
am a longtime person who has spent not

517
00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,360
only at Wakcom nursing home but Genesis

518
00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:07,360
um Berlin Nursing Home to go in person

519
00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:10,159
um to see things um for myself but for

520
00:22:10,159 --> 00:22:11,679
NAACP.

521
00:22:11,679 --> 00:22:14,080
This matter came to our attention um

522
00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:16,799
some some ideas and complaints about

523
00:22:16,799 --> 00:22:21,280
wanting more staffing and um as well as

524
00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:23,280
structural changes and that was back in

525
00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:24,960
March which we brought forth to the

526
00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,200
council. Um I mentioned before that we

527
00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:28,720
were told wait for the new administrator

528
00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:35,750
to come in etc etc. But um

529
00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:39,760
from what was mentioned and um that and

530
00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,880
what I've seen here um this nursing home

531
00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,360
has never never been a priority um for

532
00:22:45,360 --> 00:22:48,960
the county executive and who has now had

533
00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,760
their deputy administrator in there or

534
00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:54,159
their HR person almost every day which I

535
00:22:54,159 --> 00:22:55,440
don't know what their role is in there.

536
00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:57,679
They're not administrators.

537
00:22:57,679 --> 00:23:00,640
So

538
00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:03,840
I want to make one thing clear.

539
00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,000
It is very easy for people to dismiss

540
00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:07,840
important matters especially as they

541
00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:10,960
relate to the vulnerable populations as

542
00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:12,480
political.

543
00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:14,720
There is absolutely nothing political

544
00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:16,720
about this.

545
00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,120
I know certain names were mentioned,

546
00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:21,760
Councilwoman Shields, um, Delegate

547
00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,880
Sample Hughes, who actually have family

548
00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:27,120
members there.

549
00:23:27,120 --> 00:23:30,159
And let's also be clear, they are not

550
00:23:30,159 --> 00:23:31,520
they do not have opponents in their

551
00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:33,919
race. They've already won. So, what are

552
00:23:33,919 --> 00:23:37,200
they gaining politically for this? It is

553
00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,919
their job and their duty to protect the

554
00:23:39,919 --> 00:23:42,159
vulnerable, to protect all citizens, and

555
00:23:42,159 --> 00:23:45,120
do the greatest good for all people. So

556
00:23:45,120 --> 00:23:48,640
to dismiss them and talk about them and

557
00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,440
label it political is tacky, childish,

558
00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:54,080
and inappropriate.

559
00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:56,240
It is true

560
00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:58,799
that the administrator

561
00:23:58,799 --> 00:24:00,480
should have been there to answer for

562
00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:03,440
themselves and they were not and I blame

563
00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,320
the county executive for that because

564
00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:08,960
that is her employee.

565
00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:10,559
Since this administrator, we've talked

566
00:24:10,559 --> 00:24:13,279
about more than 14 people are gone and

567
00:24:13,279 --> 00:24:16,240
some more are leaving.

568
00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,520
This is a pattern that we have seen

569
00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,919
talking about unqualified people being

570
00:24:21,919 --> 00:24:23,600
hired in the county. We brought that up

571
00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,400
to the county council meetings as well.

572
00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:29,039
We were told to give names and have

573
00:24:29,039 --> 00:24:31,279
people come to the HR to say who they

574
00:24:31,279 --> 00:24:33,520
are. Well, look what happens when people

575
00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:35,200
say something. They are being

576
00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,600
terrorized, put down, talked about, told

577
00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,679
get on board or get out at the nursing

578
00:24:39,679 --> 00:24:41,520
home. So why would anybody else in the

579
00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:43,279
county want to come forward and file the

580
00:24:43,279 --> 00:24:45,200
complaints that they have? Because they

581
00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:46,880
are not going to be received well.

582
00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:48,640
They're going to be retaliated against

583
00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:50,480
and we are going to make sure that those

584
00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:51,840
people are held accountable for doing

585
00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:58,070
that.

586
00:24:58,080 --> 00:24:58,880
» Brooks.

587
00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:01,440
>> Hi, my name is Helina Fleming. Um, my

588
00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:06,640
mother's name was just mentioned, so I'm here. I'm giving you permission

589
00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:07,919
since her name has already been

590
00:25:07,919 --> 00:25:09,679
mentioned. My brother and I are there

591
00:25:09,679 --> 00:25:12,000
almost every day at the nursing home,

592
00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:16,559
one or the other one of us. Um, and

593
00:25:16,559 --> 00:25:18,400
we

594
00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,880
have seen no issues other than normal

595
00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:22,960
issues with the nursing home. I've had

596
00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,039
my grandmother and my grid and my father

597
00:25:25,039 --> 00:25:27,760
at another nursing home. and why comical

598
00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,880
nursing home is far above and beyond

599
00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,360
what we went through with those two in

600
00:25:33,360 --> 00:25:36,720
other nursing homes.

601
00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:39,200
I'd like to

602
00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:42,240
ask that when whatever you do and

603
00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:46,000
however you do it that the patients

604
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,120
family members are involved somehow in

605
00:25:49,120 --> 00:25:50,720
the decisions that you make going

606
00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,760
forward after this emergency legislation

607
00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:57,360
is passed if it's passed. I think that

608
00:25:57,360 --> 00:25:59,760
most of the concern about the nurses

609
00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:03,200
home should have come from the families.

610
00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:06,799
I don't understand why

611
00:26:06,799 --> 00:26:08,960
we needed a new administrator to point

612
00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:10,559
out anything. I've been there for

613
00:26:10,559 --> 00:26:11,919
breakfast. I've been there for lunch.

614
00:26:11,919 --> 00:26:14,159
I've been there for dinner. And I don't

615
00:26:14,159 --> 00:26:17,600
have any issues with that. Um certainly

616
00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:20,960
this nursing home can use improvements.

617
00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:22,960
All of them can. It can use

618
00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:24,559
improvements. And I hope that out of

619
00:26:24,559 --> 00:26:28,480
this this is not a political or whatever

620
00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:32,159
thing where it's just us against them. I

621
00:26:32,159 --> 00:26:35,120
hope in the end at the end of this

622
00:26:35,120 --> 00:26:37,039
that the nursing home gets the

623
00:26:37,039 --> 00:26:39,200
improvements, the new systems, the new

624
00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:41,919
protocols, the new rules, whatever it

625
00:26:41,919 --> 00:26:45,360
needs to improve. Um I'd also like to

626
00:26:45,360 --> 00:26:48,960
say as a person who's been in management

627
00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,840
um for a lot of years that firing people

628
00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,320
is one of the laziest forms of

629
00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:57,120
management. Anybody can come in and

630
00:26:57,120 --> 00:26:59,760
point at people and say that they're not

631
00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:01,279
doing their job, you're not doing this,

632
00:27:01,279 --> 00:27:03,360
you're not doing that. A good manager

633
00:27:03,360 --> 00:27:05,919
comes in and they motivate. They change

634
00:27:05,919 --> 00:27:08,799
procedures. They change systems. They

635
00:27:08,799 --> 00:27:10,799
change things and they include the

636
00:27:10,799 --> 00:27:12,720
people that they've invested in and the

637
00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:15,919
people that have invested in them. So, I

638
00:27:15,919 --> 00:27:19,919
hope that we consider all of that when

639
00:27:19,919 --> 00:27:22,400
we're making this decision. Um, I don't

640
00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,799
know the lady, the new administrator. I

641
00:27:24,799 --> 00:27:27,200
just know her in from passing and by

642
00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:30,320
sight and so I don't know her personally

643
00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,400
but I do know what a manager is supposed

644
00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:35,360
to do and what she's doing over there is

645
00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:36,880
not what you're supposed to do as a

646
00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:41,039
manager. Um so moving forward I hope you

647
00:27:41,039 --> 00:27:43,120
guys will keep in mind the patients and

648
00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:45,919
the families at the nur that have people

649
00:27:45,919 --> 00:27:48,960
at the nursing home and consider us when

650
00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:50,960
you make your decisions. Thank you.

651
00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:57,430
>> Thank you.

652
00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,320
Hi, council. Um, Lana Foley, county

653
00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:02,799
resident, city resident. Um, I just

654
00:28:02,799 --> 00:28:04,679
wanted to piggyback on that. It was

655
00:28:04,679 --> 00:28:05,679
[snorts] something that I was waiting to

656
00:28:05,679 --> 00:28:08,640
see if anybody else brought up. Um, I

657
00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:10,480
know it's nice to have a nice little

658
00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,640
package of seven members of a council or

659
00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:15,039
a commission. Um, but if there needs to

660
00:28:15,039 --> 00:28:17,279
be eight or nine, I think it is

661
00:28:17,279 --> 00:28:19,360
important to make sure all people that

662
00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:21,200
really should be in the decision-m are

663
00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:23,200
included.

664
00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:25,520
I think that it should be maybe

665
00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:28,000
considered to have some sort of wording

666
00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:31,679
and maybe because you're expecting you

667
00:28:31,679 --> 00:28:33,440
can't really expect people to pull this

668
00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:35,840
together, but maybe having an if

669
00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:37,760
available

670
00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:41,440
um a member from

671
00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:44,159
a group that maybe the nursing home

672
00:28:44,159 --> 00:28:46,960
organizes that is visitors, families,

673
00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:49,600
volunteers that they can get together,

674
00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:50,880
which would be something that they would

675
00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,360
need to put together on their own. Um,

676
00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:55,760
but somehow having some sort of wording

677
00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:58,000
that if available, that way it's not

678
00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,320
something that's a yes or no that they

679
00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:02,480
have to have that put into place, but if

680
00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:04,080
they want to be involved in the decision

681
00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:06,080
making, that that's an option. That's

682
00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:06,799
it.

683
00:29:06,799 --> 00:29:21,510
>> Thank you, M.

684
00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:24,799
Good morning. My name is Mary Ashanti

685
00:29:24,799 --> 00:29:26,880
and I thank God for the opportunity to

686
00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:30,960
be here and um appreciate the the

687
00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:34,000
council uh giving us the opportunity to

688
00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:36,559
speak. Uh one of the things that I would

689
00:29:36,559 --> 00:29:39,919
like to have happen after this uh the

690
00:29:39,919 --> 00:29:44,240
passing of this uh emergency act is to

691
00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:46,720
at the next meeting which is an evening

692
00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:50,080
meeting have the administrator to come

693
00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:54,480
before this body and and uh enlighten us

694
00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:56,559
about all the changes that have been

695
00:29:56,559 --> 00:29:58,080
made

696
00:29:58,080 --> 00:29:59,919
uh because there's been a lot of change

697
00:29:59,919 --> 00:30:03,279
that have been made. families don't know

698
00:30:03,279 --> 00:30:07,120
uh who's doing what what's outsourced

699
00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:11,360
and all of that kind of stuff. And um

700
00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:13,840
since the new administrator, I don't see

701
00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:17,840
any better service uh and whatever. My

702
00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,320
mother was one of those people that the

703
00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,279
inspector cited as the nursing home

704
00:30:23,279 --> 00:30:25,679
being non-compliant.

705
00:30:25,679 --> 00:30:27,360
Those things haven't been completely

706
00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:29,600
corrected yet.

707
00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:33,039
So, um there is a new director of

708
00:30:33,039 --> 00:30:35,440
nursing trying to give her enough time

709
00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:39,120
to um

710
00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:42,720
get things um addressed what was what

711
00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:47,120
was seen wrong by the inspectors.

712
00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:51,760
Um, I I just had a person that as a

713
00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:53,600
volunteer, I'm not going to call her

714
00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:56,720
name, but she comes to the nursing home

715
00:30:56,720 --> 00:31:00,640
twice a week. My mother

716
00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,440
is one of the people that she sees and

717
00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,480
there are others. She comes and they

718
00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:10,480
look for her. I know that um on a

719
00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:13,120
Thursday my mother looks for her. I'm

720
00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:16,720
just being told by her that she is not

721
00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:19,039
one there

722
00:31:19,039 --> 00:31:24,080
and it's made uh clear. So

723
00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:27,679
I would like for after this uh emergency

724
00:31:27,679 --> 00:31:29,200
act

725
00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:31,679
that some of the harassment that's going

726
00:31:31,679 --> 00:31:35,919
on is cease and desist.

727
00:31:35,919 --> 00:31:39,679
There's no need for anyone all these

728
00:31:39,679 --> 00:31:41,919
people to be coming over there now. They

729
00:31:41,919 --> 00:31:44,240
made their point

730
00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:47,360
uh very very clear. We're not ignorant.

731
00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:50,000
We know that it's harassment. So, we

732
00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,679
need for them to cease and assist.

733
00:31:53,679 --> 00:31:58,230
Thank you. [applause]

734
00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:06,389
» Thank you, Mr. Shanti.

735
00:32:06,399 --> 00:32:08,720
» Good morning. I'm delegate Shereice

736
00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:10,880
Ample Hughes. first and foremost like to

737
00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:13,679
say thank you to the county council for

738
00:32:13,679 --> 00:32:15,679
um taking up this emergency legislation

739
00:32:15,679 --> 00:32:17,600
and making sure it was an emergency

740
00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:20,080
because it is an emergency. Um contrary

741
00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:23,039
to some people's beliefs and thoughts um

742
00:32:23,039 --> 00:32:26,559
no establishment should have to um have

743
00:32:26,559 --> 00:32:31,440
a exit of about 17 18 people within 3

744
00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:34,399
months. It's just it's unheard of in

745
00:32:34,399 --> 00:32:36,960
some cases. Um but what I would like to

746
00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:40,240
say this morning is um the uh statement

747
00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:41,519
has been made about whether or not the

748
00:32:41,519 --> 00:32:43,039
state has been involved. Yes, the state

749
00:32:43,039 --> 00:32:44,640
has involved. The office of healthcare

750
00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,519
quality they conducted their assessment

751
00:32:47,519 --> 00:32:49,679
came and did invest in investigations

752
00:32:49,679 --> 00:32:52,080
and there are some deficiencies and yes

753
00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:53,440
they need to be resolved and there will

754
00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:55,519
be a timeline. The state will come back

755
00:32:55,519 --> 00:32:57,760
and conduct those assessments and see if

756
00:32:57,760 --> 00:32:59,600
they've been improved. Also the

757
00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:01,760
department of labor was contacted by an

758
00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:04,320
employee due to some health um

759
00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:06,399
occupational hazards that were taking

760
00:33:06,399 --> 00:33:08,159
place so that individual could do their

761
00:33:08,159 --> 00:33:10,320
job properly. So those things have been

762
00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:14,240
underway. Also the um administrator um

763
00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:16,720
licensing board has been contacted to

764
00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:18,159
discuss the concerns of the

765
00:33:18,159 --> 00:33:20,799
administrator. So the statement in

766
00:33:20,799 --> 00:33:23,039
question may have been where's the state

767
00:33:23,039 --> 00:33:25,440
to this extent and to my knowledge this

768
00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:27,840
is where and where they are and um the

769
00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:29,440
county should have copies of that

770
00:33:29,440 --> 00:33:31,039
information if not it should be

771
00:33:31,039 --> 00:33:33,600
forthcoming. The other item I wanted to

772
00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:37,279
just share with you is that um the exit

773
00:33:37,279 --> 00:33:39,519
of employees um again it is

774
00:33:39,519 --> 00:33:42,320
heartbreaking because just on Sunday um

775
00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:44,480
the activities coordinator she sat and

776
00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:46,559
cried and I I didn't speak about this

777
00:33:46,559 --> 00:33:48,080
issue at all while I was visiting my

778
00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:50,240
mother. We were in the cafeteria, but

779
00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:51,600
she came to me and she said, "I'm sorry.

780
00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:53,519
I have to do this, but I have to leave.

781
00:33:53,519 --> 00:33:55,039
because this environment

782
00:33:55,039 --> 00:33:57,279
is toxic and I can no longer be here."

783
00:33:57,279 --> 00:33:59,279
And my last day is October the 8th.

784
00:33:59,279 --> 00:34:01,440
Beautiful woman. Been there 18 years.

785
00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:02,960
And you know, no, how I know she's

786
00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:04,320
beautiful because she could just see it

787
00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:07,039
genuinely from her conversation. But

788
00:34:07,039 --> 00:34:08,800
even more so, this is why it hurts me to

789
00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,359
my heart because my mother and this

790
00:34:11,359 --> 00:34:13,599
woman employee, they reference

791
00:34:13,599 --> 00:34:15,919
themselves as sisters. One's born on

792
00:34:15,919 --> 00:34:18,000
Octo, excuse me, August the 14th and the

793
00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,480
other one's born on August the 15th and

794
00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:22,159
they've just had that relationship since

795
00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:24,399
day one since my mother's been in there.

796
00:34:24,399 --> 00:34:27,359
So those relationships are real. Um and

797
00:34:27,359 --> 00:34:30,000
so I just wanted to highlight that the

798
00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,240
um in closing what I will share with you

799
00:34:32,240 --> 00:34:35,599
is this. Um this is not political for

800
00:34:35,599 --> 00:34:37,839
me. If I if I stop being a legislator

801
00:34:37,839 --> 00:34:40,399
today, you know, so be it. I'm still

802
00:34:40,399 --> 00:34:42,079
going to be shar Hughes and I'm still

803
00:34:42,079 --> 00:34:43,359
going to be the mother. I'm going to be

804
00:34:43,359 --> 00:34:44,879
the daughter. I'm gonna be the sister

805
00:34:44,879 --> 00:34:46,560
and all that of persons that I love and

806
00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:47,919
I'm going to make sure my community

807
00:34:47,919 --> 00:34:49,679
still and I have been even before I

808
00:34:49,679 --> 00:34:51,520
became an elected official. Um I used to

809
00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:52,639
go to a nurse home when I was a

810
00:34:52,639 --> 00:34:54,480
teenager. That's just what we did with

811
00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:56,480
the American Legion Auxiliary. So it's

812
00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:58,240
in my blood. It's in my it's in my skin.

813
00:34:58,240 --> 00:34:59,520
So the county executive, she can

814
00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:01,760
continue to talk about me all she wants.

815
00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:03,760
It really has done nothing for me but

816
00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:05,359
given me more energy and fuel to keep

817
00:35:05,359 --> 00:35:06,560
fighting for what I've been fighting

818
00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:08,960
for. And I wish and I know it was stated

819
00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:11,119
by a citizen. I wish he had come to the

820
00:35:11,119 --> 00:35:14,079
table as a humble servant and say, "Hey,

821
00:35:14,079 --> 00:35:15,839
let me understand. Let me understand

822
00:35:15,839 --> 00:35:18,079
where we are and let's work together." I

823
00:35:18,079 --> 00:35:19,440
will work with anyone. I deal with

824
00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:21,200
opposition every day, all day in the in

825
00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:22,960
the House of Delegates and I work with

826
00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:26,160
people. So, um, just last thing, I know

827
00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:28,480
my time is up. I'll be respectful. Um, I

828
00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:30,560
was looking at the legislation and in

829
00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:32,160
49.5

830
00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:36,640
it talks about the membership and 49.6

831
00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:38,320
about talks about terms, vacancies, and

832
00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:40,400
removals. And in letter A, it says the

833
00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:42,400
family member commissioner. And I

834
00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:45,920
haven't been able to find that in 49.5

835
00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:47,599
section of where a family member

836
00:35:47,599 --> 00:35:49,599
commissioner will be a part of the

837
00:35:49,599 --> 00:35:52,160
membership. Um, if that is going to

838
00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:54,000
happen, that would be great. I know that

839
00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:56,000
was one of my suggestions. And if I'm

840
00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:57,839
reading this incorrectly, my apologies,

841
00:35:57,839 --> 00:35:59,599
but I did see that. And I just wanted to

842
00:35:59,599 --> 00:36:01,520
know if the family member commissioner

843
00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:04,000
was going to be a part of this body or

844
00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,480
this commission because it does uh bode

845
00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:08,480
well to have the experience and the

846
00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:10,160
knowledge from someone who is a family

847
00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:12,160
member uh to be a part of this along

848
00:36:12,160 --> 00:36:13,920
with those professionals. So, thank you

849
00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:15,200
again for your time and I'd like to

850
00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:17,040
thank the community again for standing

851
00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:19,440
up, speaking out and they know they're

852
00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:21,200
real, they're people, they're here and

853
00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:23,119
they just want the support of this body

854
00:36:23,119 --> 00:36:24,880
and everybody else who has the capacity

855
00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:28,380
to help. Thank you.

856
00:36:28,380 --> 00:36:30,710
>> [applause]

857
00:36:30,720 --> 00:36:37,589
» Thank you, Delegate Sample Hughes.

858
00:36:37,599 --> 00:36:40,480
» Good morning, Dolores Jones Peters, um

859
00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:43,599
citizen of Wakcoma County. Uh the letter

860
00:36:43,599 --> 00:36:46,160
that I'm about to read is not uh one of

861
00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:49,520
my own. However, because of the um

862
00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:51,920
toxicity, this person would remain

863
00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:55,119
anonymous. I am a current employee at

864
00:36:55,119 --> 00:36:57,599
Wakama Nursing Home and an emergency

865
00:36:57,599 --> 00:36:59,920
legislation to form an established

866
00:36:59,920 --> 00:37:02,480
commission is most definitely needed at

867
00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:04,720
this time. Steve Lankin state at a

868
00:37:04,720 --> 00:37:06,400
morning meeting with department heads

869
00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:09,200
only that we employees are going to open

870
00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:12,160
up Pandora's box and we do at the end of

871
00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:14,560
the day will be hurtful for you and the

872
00:37:14,560 --> 00:37:17,359
residents. Tina is not going anywhere.

873
00:37:17,359 --> 00:37:19,680
Tina, myself, and Corey are still going

874
00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:22,160
to be here and the executive. The

875
00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:24,079
employees are blowing it all up.

876
00:37:24,079 --> 00:37:26,320
Everything can be fixed. Let's talk

877
00:37:26,320 --> 00:37:28,400
about it. I'm not saying decisions will

878
00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:30,880
be made by a group collectively. The

879
00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:34,000
reason an established commission is

880
00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:36,640
needed. Corey County HR was present at

881
00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:38,640
the same morning meeting and stated, "If

882
00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:40,640
we employees continue what we're doing,

883
00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:43,119
the state will come up here, come up

884
00:37:43,119 --> 00:37:45,839
here with body cameras and guns and

885
00:37:45,839 --> 00:37:48,160
interview every resident. If they're not

886
00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:50,560
shook now, they will be even more scared

887
00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:54,160
then and we employees have opened a

888
00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:57,040
Pandora box. We better be prepared."

889
00:37:57,040 --> 00:37:59,440
Reason and established commission is

890
00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:02,560
needed. Geanna unpaid internship with

891
00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:06,240
Tina stated entitled employees. You need

892
00:38:06,240 --> 00:38:08,880
to come here to work and not be babies.

893
00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:12,640
Spoiled brats. Reason an established

894
00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:15,760
commission is needed. Tina Fosky being

895
00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:18,320
the new administrator in in it itself is

896
00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:20,480
not the issue. Tina Fier has been

897
00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:22,960
administrator in other facilities as we

898
00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:24,880
all know. She did not hold her position

899
00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:27,440
for long in any of facilities but has

900
00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:29,760
worked in previously.

901
00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:32,960
As of April the 1st, 2026, her average

902
00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:36,240
rating as administrator in a one-star

903
00:38:36,240 --> 00:38:40,000
facility, 125 deficiencies, one flag

904
00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:44,000
with abuse, and $160,325

905
00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:47,839
in fines. I will leave that there. Tina

906
00:38:47,839 --> 00:38:49,599
has worked as a respiratory therapist in

907
00:38:49,599 --> 00:38:51,359
the state of Delaware and at the

908
00:38:51,359 --> 00:38:53,680
facility she worked at during CO no

909
00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:56,400
fatalities occurred related to CO that

910
00:38:56,400 --> 00:38:59,040
is quite impressive. Tina knows the

911
00:38:59,040 --> 00:39:01,599
requirements of being the a director

912
00:39:01,599 --> 00:39:04,560
administrator of a facility

913
00:39:04,560 --> 00:39:06,640
nursing home is an antid of the county.

914
00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:08,400
Tina called the county for assistance

915
00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:10,320
because she needed help. The county

916
00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:12,480
mainly Steven Corey along with Julie

917
00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:15,200
Jordiano has been involved since Tina

918
00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:17,599
stepped in. If Tina cannot handle her

919
00:39:17,599 --> 00:39:19,599
job as previous administrators have in

920
00:39:19,599 --> 00:39:21,680
the past, what makes her certified and

921
00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,880
competent to do her job

922
00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:28,000
if she needs Corey County HR who is

923
00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:30,480
being paid by the taxpayers to do county

924
00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:32,560
related duties?

925
00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:34,720
Is being a nursing home administrator a

926
00:39:34,720 --> 00:39:38,640
twoperson job? A reason an established

927
00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:40,960
commission is needed.

928
00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:42,640
Tina Foski does not engage with

929
00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:44,960
employees or the residents as uh Corey

930
00:39:44,960 --> 00:39:47,359
and Julie and Steve portray. And I say

931
00:39:47,359 --> 00:39:50,640
this because the residents of our count

932
00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:53,200
our priority are our priority. Not just

933
00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:55,520
the alert and the oriented ones. It

934
00:39:55,520 --> 00:39:57,280
includes the ones who have dementia, the

935
00:39:57,280 --> 00:39:59,119
ones who have no family to visit, the

936
00:39:59,119 --> 00:40:01,440
ones who come for rehab. Tina has

937
00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:03,440
singled out two residents in particular.

938
00:40:03,440 --> 00:40:05,680
Resident number one has been frequently

939
00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:07,599
visited by Tina since that first county

940
00:40:07,599 --> 00:40:09,920
council meeting that was held. Not only

941
00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:11,920
did does Tina sit and chat with her on a

942
00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:14,320
regular basis, so does Corey. Do I know

943
00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:16,640
personally what is being said? No, I do

944
00:40:16,640 --> 00:40:18,480
not. I can tell you this though. Tina

945
00:40:18,480 --> 00:40:20,320
and Corey sat in conference one evening

946
00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:22,079
eating crafts. The fact that this

947
00:40:22,079 --> 00:40:24,720
resident is also the president of the of

948
00:40:24,720 --> 00:40:27,200
the resident council, a council to give

949
00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:29,760
residents an independent organized voice

950
00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:32,079
to share concerns suggest facility

951
00:40:32,079 --> 00:40:34,320
improvements and plan social activities

952
00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:36,079
would lead one to believe some sort of

953
00:40:36,079 --> 00:40:39,040
manipulation was taking place because

954
00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:41,839
the time is up. I want to go on to say

955
00:40:41,839 --> 00:40:43,440
we need to be the voice for the ones who

956
00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:45,040
are silent, the ones who show up for

957
00:40:45,040 --> 00:40:46,880
every day. We need the consistency. We

958
00:40:46,880 --> 00:40:49,520
the need the uh continuity. We need to

959
00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:51,119
advocate for our residents and family.

960
00:40:51,119 --> 00:40:52,560
This is not never should have been

961
00:40:52,560 --> 00:40:54,480
political. This has always been a fight

962
00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:56,240
for the resident, a fight to keep a

963
00:40:56,240 --> 00:40:58,319
comical nursing home for the residents.

964
00:40:58,319 --> 00:41:00,400
I also would like to include a few other

965
00:41:00,400 --> 00:41:02,400
favoritisms which I will not read at

966
00:41:02,400 --> 00:41:04,640
this time. However, I do have copies for

967
00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:06,880
each one of our council members. The

968
00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:08,800
fact belongs to the people as the county

969
00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:11,359
executive stated and that is why one

970
00:41:11,359 --> 00:41:13,359
person should not be making decisions.

971
00:41:13,359 --> 00:41:15,359
We need an established commission formed

972
00:41:15,359 --> 00:41:18,160
to provide continuity of care, continued

973
00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:20,240
oversight and accountability when

974
00:41:20,240 --> 00:41:22,640
decisions decisions, excuse me, are

975
00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:24,560
being made about our most vulnerable

976
00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:26,640
members of the community. Our residents

977
00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:29,520
deserve respect, dignity, and the

978
00:41:29,520 --> 00:41:31,760
security. Thank you.

979
00:41:31,760 --> 00:41:43,109
>> Thanks, Peters.

980
00:41:43,119 --> 00:41:50,470
the public comments.

981
00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:52,960
Good morning. Mike Goldberg, WC Comico.

982
00:41:52,960 --> 00:41:55,520
I'll be very brief. Um, here we are in

983
00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:59,040
the midst of an official public hearing

984
00:41:59,040 --> 00:42:01,920
for the nursing home. Conspicuously

985
00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:03,440
absent.

986
00:42:03,440 --> 00:42:05,680
It's the county executive and the

987
00:42:05,680 --> 00:42:08,160
administrator for the nursing home. This

988
00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:11,839
is not the first time that one or the

989
00:42:11,839 --> 00:42:15,200
other or both have been absent when uh

990
00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:18,880
there is important critical issues that

991
00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:21,280
are being discussed by this council.

992
00:42:21,280 --> 00:42:23,839
Missing an action. Julie Gardano.

993
00:42:23,839 --> 00:42:26,319
Missing an action. Tina Fosski. Thank

994
00:42:26,319 --> 00:42:28,634
you.

995
00:42:28,634 --> 00:42:42,309
[applause]

996
00:42:42,319 --> 00:42:44,000
Steven Lake, assistant director of

997
00:42:44,000 --> 00:42:46,960
administration. Uh before I get into my

998
00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:48,560
remarks, I just want to say it's not

999
00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:50,240
surprising that the character

1000
00:42:50,240 --> 00:42:54,079
assassination has been ramped up. Uh it

1001
00:42:54,079 --> 00:42:55,599
just

1002
00:42:55,599 --> 00:42:57,760
when you can't argue the facts or

1003
00:42:57,760 --> 00:42:59,839
disprove the facts, you move to

1004
00:42:59,839 --> 00:43:01,599
discredit people. And that's exactly

1005
00:43:01,599 --> 00:43:04,319
what's going on today. It's pure and

1006
00:43:04,319 --> 00:43:06,480
simple. It's character assassination.

1007
00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:08,480
Just what some of you have done to Tina

1008
00:43:08,480 --> 00:43:11,520
Fosski. There is no emergency at the

1009
00:43:11,520 --> 00:43:14,079
Wcomo Nursing Home. Yet, this council is

1010
00:43:14,079 --> 00:43:17,119
poised to pass emergency legislation.

1011
00:43:17,119 --> 00:43:18,960
The nursing home administrator walked

1012
00:43:18,960 --> 00:43:21,839
into a situation that by any measure is

1013
00:43:21,839 --> 00:43:23,920
dysfunctional. She uncovered

1014
00:43:23,920 --> 00:43:25,920
deficiencies that were hidden from plain

1015
00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:27,839
view and swept under the carpet for

1016
00:43:27,839 --> 00:43:30,480
years. She brought these issues to the

1017
00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:33,040
attention of the administration and took

1018
00:43:33,040 --> 00:43:35,760
swift and decisive action to remedy

1019
00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:38,400
them. This is what competent and

1020
00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:40,960
responsible management looks like. And

1021
00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:43,680
each and every action she has taken is

1022
00:43:43,680 --> 00:43:46,000
in the best interest of the Wcomo

1023
00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:49,200
Nursing Home, its employees, and above

1024
00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:52,880
all residents of and their families.

1025
00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:54,560
From the day this became a public

1026
00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:56,400
manner, our administration has

1027
00:43:56,400 --> 00:43:58,640
repeatedly documented that each and

1028
00:43:58,640 --> 00:44:00,880
every public accusation directed at Tina

1029
00:44:00,880 --> 00:44:03,200
Fosski is unfounded. Nevertheless, you

1030
00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:05,200
proceed full steam ahead as if we have

1031
00:44:05,200 --> 00:44:08,319
never disproven the false accusations,

1032
00:44:08,319 --> 00:44:09,920
including those that have been made

1033
00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:12,240
today. And you've inserted yourselves

1034
00:44:12,240 --> 00:44:14,000
into a matter that according to the

1035
00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:16,240
Department of Law, you likely have no

1036
00:44:16,240 --> 00:44:18,640
legal standing. Worse yet, you've

1037
00:44:18,640 --> 00:44:20,800
rebuffed our overtures to meet with you

1038
00:44:20,800 --> 00:44:23,680
privately to discuss these matters. And

1039
00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:25,920
a majority of you have not even set foot

1040
00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:27,920
in the nursing home since Tina has been

1041
00:44:27,920 --> 00:44:30,640
administrator, which is substantiated by

1042
00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:33,200
the visitor logs. As far as this

1043
00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:35,359
legislation is concerned, we support the

1044
00:44:35,359 --> 00:44:37,599
concept of an advisory board. In fact,

1045
00:44:37,599 --> 00:44:39,839
the executive recommended this idea the

1046
00:44:39,839 --> 00:44:41,760
delegate sample used before she penned

1047
00:44:41,760 --> 00:44:43,839
her letter to council. But we should

1048
00:44:43,839 --> 00:44:45,680
take the appropriate time to identify

1049
00:44:45,680 --> 00:44:48,560
and vet individuals for this these

1050
00:44:48,560 --> 00:44:51,200
important positions and not rush to meet

1051
00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:53,760
some arbitrary contrived deadline.

1052
00:44:53,760 --> 00:44:56,160
Emergency legislation should be reserved

1053
00:44:56,160 --> 00:44:58,960
for actual emergencies. We especially

1054
00:44:58,960 --> 00:45:00,960
take exception with the provision to

1055
00:45:00,960 --> 00:45:02,720
terminate the nursing home administrator

1056
00:45:02,720 --> 00:45:05,680
by a 5 to2 vote to advocate for her

1057
00:45:05,680 --> 00:45:07,760
removal. And to be clear, this is

1058
00:45:07,760 --> 00:45:10,079
exactly what you're doing. It's a vote

1059
00:45:10,079 --> 00:45:13,119
to advocate for the status quo. A status

1060
00:45:13,119 --> 00:45:15,920
quo of uneven care that existed long

1061
00:45:15,920 --> 00:45:17,760
before Tina Fosausky set foot in the

1062
00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:20,720
Wiccomo nursing home. A status quo that

1063
00:45:20,720 --> 00:45:23,359
enables past due accounts to acrue to

1064
00:45:23,359 --> 00:45:26,079
$2.3 million with no attempt to collect

1065
00:45:26,079 --> 00:45:28,800
these debts. A status quo that enables

1066
00:45:28,800 --> 00:45:31,680
the state for years to repeatedly site

1067
00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:34,240
and find the nursing home for resident

1068
00:45:34,240 --> 00:45:36,880
and medical care deficiencies. A status

1069
00:45:36,880 --> 00:45:39,280
quo that enables substandard facilities

1070
00:45:39,280 --> 00:45:41,520
maintenance and necessitates the county

1071
00:45:41,520 --> 00:45:43,760
to step in and pay for items like roofs,

1072
00:45:43,760 --> 00:45:47,119
generators, and HVA systems. A status

1073
00:45:47,119 --> 00:45:48,880
quo that hides the fact that staff

1074
00:45:48,880 --> 00:45:51,440
turnover was considerably higher during

1075
00:45:51,440 --> 00:45:54,400
the past administrations. Tina Fosski

1076
00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:56,240
didn't create these problems, but

1077
00:45:56,240 --> 00:45:58,480
because she's running the facility by

1078
00:45:58,480 --> 00:46:00,400
the book and holding employees

1079
00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:02,640
accountable, disgruntled individuals,

1080
00:46:02,640 --> 00:46:04,640
some members of the public of this and

1081
00:46:04,640 --> 00:46:06,640
this body are proclaiming based entirely

1082
00:46:06,640 --> 00:46:09,839
on hearsay that Tina is the problem.

1083
00:46:09,839 --> 00:46:11,760
Where's the righteous indignation before

1084
00:46:11,760 --> 00:46:14,319
Tina Foley was the administrator? We've

1085
00:46:14,319 --> 00:46:16,560
proven again and again these issues have

1086
00:46:16,560 --> 00:46:18,880
existed for years that none of this

1087
00:46:18,880 --> 00:46:21,200
seems to matter. It doesn't matter that

1088
00:46:21,200 --> 00:46:22,960
the former administrator kept this

1089
00:46:22,960 --> 00:46:25,200
information from the executive, kept it

1090
00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:27,280
from the council, and kept it from the

1091
00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:29,520
public. It doesn't seem to matter that

1092
00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:31,760
statemandated nursing care standards

1093
00:46:31,760 --> 00:46:34,000
were not being adhered to. It doesn't

1094
00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:35,920
seem to matter that the nursing home has

1095
00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:38,319
been cited and fined by the state for

1096
00:46:38,319 --> 00:46:41,599
many, many years. All that seems to

1097
00:46:41,599 --> 00:46:43,200
matter is maintaining a family

1098
00:46:43,200 --> 00:46:45,680
atmosphere and making sure grandma,

1099
00:46:45,680 --> 00:46:47,760
grandpa, mom and dad, and others are

1100
00:46:47,760 --> 00:46:49,839
greeted by familiar faces. Like, can you

1101
00:46:49,839 --> 00:46:50,400
hurry up?

1102
00:46:50,400 --> 00:46:52,240
>> The facts are the facts. Everything else

1103
00:46:52,240 --> 00:46:54,960
is fiction. The narrative that

1104
00:46:54,960 --> 00:46:56,800
everything is just fine before Tina

1105
00:46:56,800 --> 00:46:59,280
Fosski arrived is an illusion. It's time

1106
00:46:59,280 --> 00:47:01,280
to acknowledge that Tina Fosski is not

1107
00:47:01,280 --> 00:47:03,520
the problem and the init and the issues

1108
00:47:03,520 --> 00:47:05,119
that she's working to remedy have

1109
00:47:05,119 --> 00:47:07,280
nothing to do with her management. You

1110
00:47:07,280 --> 00:47:10,160
know, and we know these problems existed

1111
00:47:10,160 --> 00:47:12,160
long before she arrived on the scene,

1112
00:47:12,160 --> 00:47:14,240
and it's time to support her in her

1113
00:47:14,240 --> 00:47:16,560
quest to address them rather than make

1114
00:47:16,560 --> 00:47:18,079
her the scapegoat for these

1115
00:47:18,079 --> 00:47:28,470
long-standing deficiencies.

1116
00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:29,440
» She didn't know it was going to be

1117
00:47:29,440 --> 00:47:31,359
exciting out there. Sorry about that.

1118
00:47:31,359 --> 00:47:33,760
Um, I just wanted to say that, um, we

1119
00:47:33,760 --> 00:47:36,480
all agree on many parts of this bill. We

1120
00:47:36,480 --> 00:47:38,480
agree on the advisory board. Excuse me.

1121
00:47:38,480 --> 00:47:40,079
>> You won't identify yourself.

1122
00:47:40,079 --> 00:47:41,680
>> Oh, I'm sorry. County Executive Julie

1123
00:47:41,680 --> 00:47:44,000
Gerardano. Thank you, Mr. Atkins.

1124
00:47:44,000 --> 00:47:45,920
>> Um, so we agree on many parts of this

1125
00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:48,240
bill. We agree on the advisory board. We

1126
00:47:48,240 --> 00:47:49,760
agree on the nursing or that the nursing

1127
00:47:49,760 --> 00:47:51,440
home needs to work with the board and

1128
00:47:51,440 --> 00:47:53,280
that the board should meet once a month.

1129
00:47:53,280 --> 00:47:55,200
We agree that any future administrator

1130
00:47:55,200 --> 00:47:56,400
should go through the executive

1131
00:47:56,400 --> 00:47:58,720
appointment and council confirmation.

1132
00:47:58,720 --> 00:48:01,040
The county executive creating a

1133
00:48:01,040 --> 00:48:03,440
personnel system by November 17th is a

1134
00:48:03,440 --> 00:48:05,359
bit of a steep ask. However, the good

1135
00:48:05,359 --> 00:48:06,800
news is that they already have a system

1136
00:48:06,800 --> 00:48:08,640
in place that is being used and not to

1137
00:48:08,640 --> 00:48:10,160
mention the state and federal uh

1138
00:48:10,160 --> 00:48:12,480
regulations that they must follow. But

1139
00:48:12,480 --> 00:48:14,079
my two biggest concerns and they've been

1140
00:48:14,079 --> 00:48:16,240
actually brought up here is that uh

1141
00:48:16,240 --> 00:48:17,760
number one, this council being able to

1142
00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:19,440
terminate the administrator with just a

1143
00:48:19,440 --> 00:48:22,240
5 to2 vote with no checks and balances

1144
00:48:22,240 --> 00:48:23,920
that violates our charter. And I'm

1145
00:48:23,920 --> 00:48:26,160
asking that the council amend uh that

1146
00:48:26,160 --> 00:48:29,280
part of the bill. And number two, just a

1147
00:48:29,280 --> 00:48:30,960
quick question and I'm hoping in your

1148
00:48:30,960 --> 00:48:32,480
discussions that you're able to answer

1149
00:48:32,480 --> 00:48:34,480
this. Uh there's a part of the bill that

1150
00:48:34,480 --> 00:48:36,240
I had some questions about. Wakamako

1151
00:48:36,240 --> 00:48:38,800
County shall hold and operate the

1152
00:48:38,800 --> 00:48:41,359
Wakamako nursing home because this

1153
00:48:41,359 --> 00:48:43,200
raises some questions. If the county

1154
00:48:43,200 --> 00:48:45,280
operates the nursing home, who is

1155
00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:47,599
legally the operator? The nursing home

1156
00:48:47,599 --> 00:48:49,599
entity, the county executive, the county

1157
00:48:49,599 --> 00:48:51,839
administration, or the county government

1158
00:48:51,839 --> 00:48:54,400
collectively? Does that language affect

1159
00:48:54,400 --> 00:48:56,400
who is considered the employer of the

1160
00:48:56,400 --> 00:48:58,800
nursing home employees? Does it affect

1161
00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:01,119
county responsibility for contracts,

1162
00:49:01,119 --> 00:49:03,280
procurement, personnel decisions,

1163
00:49:03,280 --> 00:49:05,839
insurance, claims, or liability? Are you

1164
00:49:05,839 --> 00:49:08,240
willing to take that on? Does it affect

1165
00:49:08,240 --> 00:49:09,599
whether the nursing home employees

1166
00:49:09,599 --> 00:49:11,359
become subject to county personnel

1167
00:49:11,359 --> 00:49:13,520
policies? Does it affect whether the

1168
00:49:13,520 --> 00:49:15,359
nursing home revenues and expenditures

1169
00:49:15,359 --> 00:49:18,160
now become county governmental funds?

1170
00:49:18,160 --> 00:49:19,599
Does it affect the nursing home's

1171
00:49:19,599 --> 00:49:21,760
existing corporate or organizational

1172
00:49:21,760 --> 00:49:24,480
status? Those are questions I would like

1173
00:49:24,480 --> 00:49:26,400
answered before the council enacts this

1174
00:49:26,400 --> 00:49:28,559
legislation because the legal

1175
00:49:28,559 --> 00:49:30,160
consequences of declaring that the

1176
00:49:30,160 --> 00:49:32,960
county shall operate the county shall

1177
00:49:32,960 --> 00:49:35,599
operate a licensed healthc care facility

1178
00:49:35,599 --> 00:49:37,440
could extend beyond what the council

1179
00:49:37,440 --> 00:49:40,240
says it intends. A stronger way to

1180
00:49:40,240 --> 00:49:42,559
describe this provision. The legislation

1181
00:49:42,559 --> 00:49:43,920
does not merely acknowledge that

1182
00:49:43,920 --> 00:49:46,240
Wakamako County owns the nursing home.

1183
00:49:46,240 --> 00:49:48,160
It affirmatively states that in county

1184
00:49:48,160 --> 00:49:50,319
law that Wakamako County shall operate

1185
00:49:50,319 --> 00:49:52,640
it while simultaneously creating a

1186
00:49:52,640 --> 00:49:54,480
statutory structure governing its

1187
00:49:54,480 --> 00:49:56,960
administrator personnel reporting and

1188
00:49:56,960 --> 00:49:59,200
oversight. If the council contends that

1189
00:49:59,200 --> 00:50:00,960
this does not fundamentally change the

1190
00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:02,480
nursing home's relationship with the

1191
00:50:02,480 --> 00:50:04,480
county government, then council should

1192
00:50:04,480 --> 00:50:06,400
explain exactly what legal effects the

1193
00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:08,240
words shall operate are intended to

1194
00:50:08,240 --> 00:50:10,800
have. We are very concerned about the

1195
00:50:10,800 --> 00:50:12,720
legal ramifications that this bill will

1196
00:50:12,720 --> 00:50:14,640
bring and in hopes that this council

1197
00:50:14,640 --> 00:50:16,160
would not leave a legal mess for the

1198
00:50:16,160 --> 00:50:18,960
next council. If the bill stays as is,

1199
00:50:18,960 --> 00:50:20,880
it has been recommended by the decadel

1200
00:50:20,880 --> 00:50:23,200
long county attorney to veto this bill.

1201
00:50:23,200 --> 00:50:24,800
So, I really hope that you are willing

1202
00:50:24,800 --> 00:50:26,559
to make those changes, especially the 5

1203
00:50:26,559 --> 00:50:28,800
to2 removal. Um, and if you could

1204
00:50:28,800 --> 00:50:31,520
explain to the public what exactly it

1205
00:50:31,520 --> 00:50:32,960
means when we are taking over the

1206
00:50:32,960 --> 00:50:35,119
operational aspect. Thank you.

1207
00:50:35,119 --> 00:50:38,240
>> Thank you very much.

1208
00:50:38,240 --> 00:50:45,670
Any other public comments?

1209
00:50:45,680 --> 00:50:47,760
That concludes uh public comments for uh

1210
00:50:47,760 --> 00:50:51,599
legislative bill 2026-11.

1211
00:50:51,599 --> 00:50:53,119
Entertain a motion from council to

1212
00:50:53,119 --> 00:50:54,955
approve. Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry.

1213
00:50:54,955 --> 00:50:56,640
[clears throat] Legislative bill. Yeah.

1214
00:50:56,640 --> 00:50:58,960
11. Uh entertain a motion from council

1215
00:50:58,960 --> 00:51:01,440
to approve legislative bill 202611.

1216
00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:01,920
>> So moved.

1217
00:51:01,920 --> 00:51:02,720
>> Second.

1218
00:51:02,720 --> 00:51:04,559
>> Any discussion?

1219
00:51:04,559 --> 00:51:09,440
I do know that um there are some um

1220
00:51:09,440 --> 00:51:11,520
I know there are some uh proposed

1221
00:51:11,520 --> 00:51:14,480
amendments that the council is um

1222
00:51:14,480 --> 00:51:16,480
understands need to be addressed um

1223
00:51:16,480 --> 00:51:18,160
after having discussions with our own

1224
00:51:18,160 --> 00:51:20,800
legal counsel following the introduction

1225
00:51:20,800 --> 00:51:23,200
of the legislative bill. Uh, one of

1226
00:51:23,200 --> 00:51:26,400
those actually I think um uh addresses

1227
00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:28,400
part of the concerns

1228
00:51:28,400 --> 00:51:31,760
uh that were that were addressed or were

1229
00:51:31,760 --> 00:51:35,119
um commented upon at the um at the

1230
00:51:35,119 --> 00:51:37,680
podium earlier, but I'll open the floor

1231
00:51:37,680 --> 00:51:39,040
up for any comments from council

1232
00:51:39,040 --> 00:51:40,640
members.

1233
00:51:40,640 --> 00:51:42,720
Josh,

1234
00:51:42,720 --> 00:51:45,440
I guess I'll just start. I I uh took the

1235
00:51:45,440 --> 00:51:47,920
opportunity to uh to go visit and tour

1236
00:51:47,920 --> 00:51:50,319
the nursing home on Friday with

1237
00:51:50,319 --> 00:51:54,559
Councilman Wyn and um you know it's not

1238
00:51:54,559 --> 00:51:55,839
the first time I've toured or visited

1239
00:51:55,839 --> 00:51:58,880
the facility. Um but I wanted to get

1240
00:51:58,880 --> 00:52:02,160
down dig down a little bit more on you

1241
00:52:02,160 --> 00:52:08,160
know on on the facility itself. So the questions at hand,

1242
00:52:08,160 --> 00:52:11,839
who currently pays the the paychecks of

1243
00:52:11,839 --> 00:52:13,920
the employees

1244
00:52:13,920 --> 00:52:16,000
when that when I asked that question to

1245
00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:19,760
the to the administrator, it was okay.

1246
00:52:19,760 --> 00:52:23,280
Well, this is a nonprofit.

1247
00:52:23,280 --> 00:52:25,760
Well, I still don't know the name of the

1248
00:52:25,760 --> 00:52:28,720
nonprofit. There are I was a former, you

1249
00:52:28,720 --> 00:52:30,000
know, I used to run a statewide

1250
00:52:30,000 --> 00:52:31,599
nonprofit.

1251
00:52:31,599 --> 00:52:33,680
uh a nonprofit

1252
00:52:33,680 --> 00:52:37,680
typically has an executive director

1253
00:52:37,680 --> 00:52:41,520
who then also has a board. So

1254
00:52:41,520 --> 00:52:42,880
the current problem, the current

1255
00:52:42,880 --> 00:52:45,520
challenge is is that the facility does

1256
00:52:45,520 --> 00:52:48,640
not have a board.

1257
00:52:48,640 --> 00:52:52,000
So the question of of uh we're kind of

1258
00:52:52,000 --> 00:52:55,200
in this little this quasi uh this no

1259
00:52:55,200 --> 00:52:57,440
man's land for an organization and this

1260
00:52:57,440 --> 00:53:00,559
is why we've come to this position in

1261
00:53:00,559 --> 00:53:05,119
which case the county owns the facility

1262
00:53:05,119 --> 00:53:07,200
but the nonprofit

1263
00:53:07,200 --> 00:53:09,200
that hasn't had a functioning board. I

1264
00:53:09,200 --> 00:53:10,720
mean, I looked on the I looked up on the

1265
00:53:10,720 --> 00:53:12,400
to see if on the state [snorts] website

1266
00:53:12,400 --> 00:53:14,240
to actually see if they were still a uh

1267
00:53:14,240 --> 00:53:16,160
functioning organization, and the only

1268
00:53:16,160 --> 00:53:17,520
one that I saw listed, which I still

1269
00:53:17,520 --> 00:53:18,559
don't know the name of the nonprofit,

1270
00:53:18,559 --> 00:53:19,680
but the currently the one that I saw

1271
00:53:19,680 --> 00:53:22,079
listed has been defunct for for years.

1272
00:53:22,079 --> 00:53:25,119
So, the question of who actually uh

1273
00:53:25,119 --> 00:53:27,760
who's the board that is running the

1274
00:53:27,760 --> 00:53:29,760
facility?

1275
00:53:29,760 --> 00:53:31,760
Then the other question then is well,

1276
00:53:31,760 --> 00:53:34,000
what is the the county's involvement?

1277
00:53:34,000 --> 00:53:36,800
So, is this fully a county facility

1278
00:53:36,800 --> 00:53:39,440
where this is a county department and we

1279
00:53:39,440 --> 00:53:43,920
own operate a nursing home or is this a

1280
00:53:43,920 --> 00:53:46,319
situation where there's a board the

1281
00:53:46,319 --> 00:53:48,640
county just owns the facility? I say all

1282
00:53:48,640 --> 00:53:50,480
that to get to the point of, you know, I

1283
00:53:50,480 --> 00:53:52,800
asked this question before is uh where

1284
00:53:52,800 --> 00:53:56,000
is the strategic plan for the Wcomo

1285
00:53:56,000 --> 00:53:57,920
Nursing Home and I don't think there is

1286
00:53:57,920 --> 00:54:00,960
one. When was the last time that there

1287
00:54:00,960 --> 00:54:04,240
was a the the Y Comic Nursing Home was

1288
00:54:04,240 --> 00:54:06,480
put into our capital improvement plan,

1289
00:54:06,480 --> 00:54:09,599
our CIP? I I don't can't even remember

1290
00:54:09,599 --> 00:54:12,960
that the facility is clearly dated. Has

1291
00:54:12,960 --> 00:54:15,200
not been I think the last wing uh what

1292
00:54:15,200 --> 00:54:18,000
was it James was 1974 or something like

1293
00:54:18,000 --> 00:54:20,319
that was the last time that that was put

1294
00:54:20,319 --> 00:54:21,280
in.

1295
00:54:21,280 --> 00:54:24,400
>> Um I was born in 1982 and I'm I'm I'm

1296
00:54:24,400 --> 00:54:26,400
turning 44 in a couple in less than a

1297
00:54:26,400 --> 00:54:27,200
month.

1298
00:54:27,200 --> 00:54:30,319
Uh clearly there needs to be dramatic

1299
00:54:30,319 --> 00:54:33,359
upgrades. It's and somebody needs to be

1300
00:54:33,359 --> 00:54:34,960
responsible. The problem here is the

1301
00:54:34,960 --> 00:54:36,480
reason why we've gotten to this point is

1302
00:54:36,480 --> 00:54:38,640
that we are in this no man's land of

1303
00:54:38,640 --> 00:54:40,160
well it's not quite ours and it's not

1304
00:54:40,160 --> 00:54:43,599
quite theirs. So there that's what puts

1305
00:54:43,599 --> 00:54:45,920
forth the leadership gap. What we're

1306
00:54:45,920 --> 00:54:48,960
trying to do here today is uh is to put

1307
00:54:48,960 --> 00:54:50,400
oversight where it should have been for

1308
00:54:50,400 --> 00:54:52,559
a while. There should be a board if

1309
00:54:52,559 --> 00:54:54,880
there if that's once again this this

1310
00:54:54,880 --> 00:54:56,800
gets back to the if there is a board

1311
00:54:56,800 --> 00:54:58,880
then there if there is a nonprofit and

1312
00:54:58,880 --> 00:54:59,839
that's the one that is running and

1313
00:54:59,839 --> 00:55:01,359
operating then there should be a board

1314
00:55:01,359 --> 00:55:03,760
around them. So the county is moving in

1315
00:55:03,760 --> 00:55:06,000
the direction to put forth a basically a

1316
00:55:06,000 --> 00:55:08,000
commission. Now a commission let me mind

1317
00:55:08,000 --> 00:55:11,200
you a commission is not a board

1318
00:55:11,200 --> 00:55:13,599
and uh you know there I think Wcomo

1319
00:55:13,599 --> 00:55:14,960
currently has I was looking up on our

1320
00:55:14,960 --> 00:55:16,880
website we have uh 13 current

1321
00:55:16,880 --> 00:55:18,559
commissions and some of these are just

1322
00:55:18,559 --> 00:55:20,000
advisory commissions. the Commission on

1323
00:55:20,000 --> 00:55:21,440
Aging, you know, the um Commission on

1324
00:55:21,440 --> 00:55:23,280
Women. There's a there's different ones.

1325
00:55:23,280 --> 00:55:24,559
Liquor license board commissioners,

1326
00:55:24,559 --> 00:55:27,520
there's there's different types, but the

1327
00:55:27,520 --> 00:55:29,680
question of well, how many of those

1328
00:55:29,680 --> 00:55:31,680
commissions and well, let me back up.

1329
00:55:31,680 --> 00:55:33,119
Some are actually commissions, some are

1330
00:55:33,119 --> 00:55:37,200
committees, some are, you know, other groups that we have each one of

1331
00:55:37,200 --> 00:55:39,440
these functions in different ways. But

1332
00:55:39,440 --> 00:55:41,040
what we're trying to do here is just to

1333
00:55:41,040 --> 00:55:43,040
put oversight and very quickly put

1334
00:55:43,040 --> 00:55:45,200
oversight into this situation because

1335
00:55:45,200 --> 00:55:48,160
it's needed. But,

1336
00:55:48,160 --> 00:55:49,680
you know, we're only going to a couple

1337
00:55:49,680 --> 00:55:51,200
of us are only here for most of us here

1338
00:55:51,200 --> 00:55:52,640
are only here for a couple more meetings

1339
00:55:52,640 --> 00:55:53,760
and and then there's going to be a new

1340
00:55:53,760 --> 00:55:55,440
county council and maybe a new county

1341
00:55:55,440 --> 00:55:59,680
executive. Uh, but we need to at some

1342
00:55:59,680 --> 00:56:01,280
point in time, we've got to get to the

1343
00:56:01,280 --> 00:56:03,440
point where we clearly understand where

1344
00:56:03,440 --> 00:56:05,359
is this facility going, how is it

1345
00:56:05,359 --> 00:56:07,040
getting there? We need to be able to

1346
00:56:07,040 --> 00:56:09,920
have a specific organization who can

1347
00:56:09,920 --> 00:56:12,000
take state and federal funds to have

1348
00:56:12,000 --> 00:56:14,400
capital improvements. And, you know,

1349
00:56:14,400 --> 00:56:16,240
I've watched it eight years. It looks it

1350
00:56:16,240 --> 00:56:17,440
does look different than it did, you

1351
00:56:17,440 --> 00:56:19,440
know, when I did my first dramatic the

1352
00:56:19,440 --> 00:56:21,200
first big tour when I joined the county

1353
00:56:21,200 --> 00:56:22,880
council 8 years ago, the facility

1354
00:56:22,880 --> 00:56:26,160
definitely looks dated. Uh they the

1355
00:56:26,160 --> 00:56:28,480
staff has been doing an extremely

1356
00:56:28,480 --> 00:56:31,040
incredible job keeping the facility up.

1357
00:56:31,040 --> 00:56:32,799
And yeah, and everyone who ever says,

1358
00:56:32,799 --> 00:56:34,079
"Oh, you never have a smell." That's

1359
00:56:34,079 --> 00:56:35,920
totally true. You've every time I've

1360
00:56:35,920 --> 00:56:38,079
ever been there, including, you know,

1361
00:56:38,079 --> 00:56:40,160
the many visits in between uh when I

1362
00:56:40,160 --> 00:56:42,640
first started, I've never had you never

1363
00:56:42,640 --> 00:56:44,880
had a smell or an issue like that. So, I

1364
00:56:44,880 --> 00:56:46,640
guess I guess I I want to open up and

1365
00:56:46,640 --> 00:56:48,960
just put us all on level set ground as

1366
00:56:48,960 --> 00:56:51,599
to how do we get to where we need to go?

1367
00:56:51,599 --> 00:56:54,640
And that is um you know, is that going

1368
00:56:54,640 --> 00:56:57,440
to be the commission? Are we once again

1369
00:56:57,440 --> 00:56:59,839
taking time to blur two different things

1370
00:56:59,839 --> 00:57:01,599
and is that going to get us to the

1371
00:57:01,599 --> 00:57:04,400
outcome that we want to get?

1372
00:57:04,400 --> 00:57:06,480
I don't know. But at least this is a

1373
00:57:06,480 --> 00:57:08,480
first step and saying, "Hey, we need to

1374
00:57:08,480 --> 00:57:10,400
take action. It needs to we clearly need

1375
00:57:10,400 --> 00:57:13,359
to be able to get write this ship and

1376
00:57:13,359 --> 00:57:16,000
make sure that this gem of a facility

1377
00:57:16,000 --> 00:57:18,079
that we all have loved and respected and

1378
00:57:18,079 --> 00:57:20,000
know people I guarantee most folks even

1379
00:57:20,000 --> 00:57:21,599
you know I know my former neighbors in

1380
00:57:21,599 --> 00:57:23,920
there now and um loved him to death just

1381
00:57:23,920 --> 00:57:25,760
a wonderful human being. I want to make

1382
00:57:25,760 --> 00:57:27,920
sure that all these folks uh and

1383
00:57:27,920 --> 00:57:29,839
including our loved ones who are there

1384
00:57:29,839 --> 00:57:33,119
uh um have the facility that they uh

1385
00:57:33,119 --> 00:57:36,880
that they deserve. And right now with no

1386
00:57:36,880 --> 00:57:38,799
plan in place as to how we are getting

1387
00:57:38,799 --> 00:57:41,040
capital improvements and what that

1388
00:57:41,040 --> 00:57:43,760
operation looks like, uh we're not we're

1389
00:57:43,760 --> 00:57:46,400
doing them an injustice by not by not

1390
00:57:46,400 --> 00:57:49,520
taking action. So uh today we've got a

1391
00:57:49,520 --> 00:57:52,240
series of uh of motions to try to put

1392
00:57:52,240 --> 00:57:53,920
together a commission that'll actually

1393
00:57:53,920 --> 00:57:56,480
advance it. But this is only a step

1394
00:57:56,480 --> 00:57:58,880
forward, but this is not where this is

1395
00:57:58,880 --> 00:58:00,480
not going to get us to where we need to

1396
00:58:00,480 --> 00:58:02,640
go with regard to, you know, getting

1397
00:58:02,640 --> 00:58:04,720
state and federal investment into

1398
00:58:04,720 --> 00:58:06,079
facilities and and to get into and

1399
00:58:06,079 --> 00:58:07,680
getting more public investment into

1400
00:58:07,680 --> 00:58:10,079
this. So, I just want to, Mr. President,

1401
00:58:10,079 --> 00:58:11,280
just wanted to level set just make sure

1402
00:58:11,280 --> 00:58:12,960
everyone understands where we're at. And

1403
00:58:12,960 --> 00:58:14,720
I hope that we can continue to move

1404
00:58:14,720 --> 00:58:16,240
forward and I hope that the new council

1405
00:58:16,240 --> 00:58:17,760
and new if there's another executive

1406
00:58:17,760 --> 00:58:21,040
coming in um that you know that we uh

1407
00:58:21,040 --> 00:58:22,960
whoever is there that we continue to

1408
00:58:22,960 --> 00:58:24,799
move this forward and that we have a

1409
00:58:24,799 --> 00:58:26,799
plan in place and that we can you know

1410
00:58:26,799 --> 00:58:28,880
in 10 and 15 years from now we can look

1411
00:58:28,880 --> 00:58:30,319
and make sure that this is not just a

1412
00:58:30,319 --> 00:58:32,160
four-star facility but a fivestar

1413
00:58:32,160 --> 00:58:36,390
facility.

1414
00:58:36,400 --> 00:58:37,920
» Um

1415
00:58:37,920 --> 00:58:40,400
so thanks everybody for coming out. I've

1416
00:58:40,400 --> 00:58:42,480
got a question and I guess for either

1417
00:58:42,480 --> 00:58:45,680
Paul and Steve maybe both either one of

1418
00:58:45,680 --> 00:58:47,040
you if you want to come forward.

1419
00:58:47,040 --> 00:58:48,160
>> Come forward.

1420
00:58:48,160 --> 00:58:48,960
>> Yeah.

1421
00:58:48,960 --> 00:58:50,480
>> I and I don't know if you can answer it

1422
00:58:50,480 --> 00:58:52,880
but you can relay the message anyway.

1423
00:58:52,880 --> 00:58:57,829
>> Okay. [laughter]

1424
00:58:57,839 --> 00:59:00,559
» So back in 20.

1425
00:59:00,559 --> 00:59:02,000
>> Oh I'm sorry. Yeah.

1426
00:59:02,000 --> 00:59:04,079
>> Paul Wilbur County attorney.

1427
00:59:04,079 --> 00:59:05,680
>> Steve Lake assistant director of

1428
00:59:05,680 --> 00:59:07,359
administration. So, I took the

1429
00:59:07,359 --> 00:59:10,640
opportunity to go back to 2018 and I

1430
00:59:10,640 --> 00:59:12,720
think Paul, you were you were the county

1431
00:59:12,720 --> 00:59:14,240
attorney at the time.

1432
00:59:14,240 --> 00:59:16,240
>> Um,

1433
00:59:16,240 --> 00:59:18,799
and we had that meeting. It was about an

1434
00:59:18,799 --> 00:59:21,920
hour and a half. And, [snorts] um, one

1435
00:59:21,920 --> 00:59:23,599
of the recommendations that came up

1436
00:59:23,599 --> 00:59:25,119
during that meeting was to have a

1437
00:59:25,119 --> 00:59:27,680
committee or a commission. And Wayne

1438
00:59:27,680 --> 00:59:30,240
Straussburg was the

1439
00:59:30,240 --> 00:59:32,720
county administrator at the time. and we

1440
00:59:32,720 --> 00:59:34,640
never took a solid vote on it, but it

1441
00:59:34,640 --> 00:59:37,280
was pretty much a consensus that we

1442
00:59:37,280 --> 00:59:39,599
would have, you know, that they would

1443
00:59:39,599 --> 00:59:42,000
move forward with a commission. Now, a

1444
00:59:42,000 --> 00:59:44,240
lot a lot of things happened at that

1445
00:59:44,240 --> 00:59:47,440
time. Uh, Mr. Culver got ill. Uh, we

1446
00:59:47,440 --> 00:59:50,960
lost him. Um, John Pota came in as the

1447
00:59:50,960 --> 00:59:55,680
intern um, county executive. Um, so I

1448
00:59:55,680 --> 00:59:57,359
guess you can say the ball got dropped

1449
00:59:57,359 --> 01:00:00,960
and nothing moved forward on that. But

1450
01:00:00,960 --> 01:00:04,880
when the county executive got elected,

1451
01:00:04,880 --> 01:00:06,799
she hired Wayne Straussburg as a

1452
01:00:06,799 --> 01:00:08,799
consultant and paid I think it was

1453
01:00:08,799 --> 01:00:11,680
$52,000 a year if the information's been

1454
01:00:11,680 --> 01:00:14,400
furnished to me correctly.

1455
01:00:14,400 --> 01:00:16,079
And you can't answer this question, but

1456
01:00:16,079 --> 01:00:18,480
I guess the county exe was this county

1457
01:00:18,480 --> 01:00:21,440
executive could was this issue about a

1458
01:00:21,440 --> 01:00:23,359
nursing home ever brought up by Mr.

1459
01:00:23,359 --> 01:00:24,960
Straussburg

1460
01:00:24,960 --> 01:00:27,839
for this $52,000 we paid him as being a

1461
01:00:27,839 --> 01:00:30,319
consultant? I mean, I would like that

1462
01:00:30,319 --> 01:00:31,680
question.

1463
01:00:31,680 --> 01:00:34,079
>> Yeah, we can transfer that question and

1464
01:00:34,079 --> 01:00:35,599
ask it, but I don't know.

1465
01:00:35,599 --> 01:00:37,359
>> So, there was never any. You don't Mr.

1466
01:00:37,359 --> 01:00:39,760
Lincoln, you don't recall. Uh, Mr.

1467
01:00:39,760 --> 01:00:41,680
>> Mr. Alway, as you know, I've only been

1468
01:00:41,680 --> 01:00:44,079
here 15 months. So, during the time that

1469
01:00:44,079 --> 01:00:46,240
I've been here, I have not had that

1470
01:00:46,240 --> 01:00:47,760
conversation with Mr. Stman.

1471
01:00:47,760 --> 01:00:49,520
>> Yeah. I mean I I would I would think is

1472
01:00:49,520 --> 01:00:52,640
hiring as a consultant and paying and I

1473
01:00:52,640 --> 01:00:54,480
don't know how many how much that was an

1474
01:00:54,480 --> 01:00:57,440
hour but um one of the things that would

1475
01:00:57,440 --> 01:01:00,640
have been um

1476
01:01:00,640 --> 01:01:03,599
as a consultant that had been the county

1477
01:01:03,599 --> 01:01:06,000
uh administrator he would had firsthand

1478
01:01:06,000 --> 01:01:08,720
knowledge of all some of the issues that

1479
01:01:08,720 --> 01:01:10,240
were going on in the county and that

1480
01:01:10,240 --> 01:01:11,680
would have probably come up because

1481
01:01:11,680 --> 01:01:17,040
we've heard we've heard about um

1482
01:01:17,040 --> 01:01:18,000
I

1483
01:01:18,000 --> 01:01:19,680
And I I'm not going to put words in the

1484
01:01:19,680 --> 01:01:20,880
county executive's mouth because I don't

1485
01:01:20,880 --> 01:01:22,240
know if I heard her say this, but it's

1486
01:01:22,240 --> 01:01:23,680
pretty much known that we didn't really

1487
01:01:23,680 --> 01:01:25,359
think we had any problems out there. We

1488
01:01:25,359 --> 01:01:26,559
thought everything was running along

1489
01:01:26,559 --> 01:01:29,520
pretty good until, you know, I guess we

1490
01:01:29,520 --> 01:01:33,119
had change in leadership. And so anyway,

1491
01:01:33,119 --> 01:01:33,440
um

1492
01:01:33,440 --> 01:01:35,280
>> may I address that for a minute? Sure.

1493
01:01:35,280 --> 01:01:38,160
So the reason that we have not reported

1494
01:01:38,160 --> 01:01:40,720
any problems is because no problems were

1495
01:01:40,720 --> 01:01:43,839
ever made known to the administration

1496
01:01:43,839 --> 01:01:45,920
and and contrary to the assertions of

1497
01:01:45,920 --> 01:01:48,559
some uh the administration did meet with

1498
01:01:48,559 --> 01:01:50,960
the former administrator on a quarterly

1499
01:01:50,960 --> 01:01:53,920
basis and nothing was ever raised at

1500
01:01:53,920 --> 01:01:55,920
that point. And so it's our contention,

1501
01:01:55,920 --> 01:01:58,640
as I've said now on two occasions, that

1502
01:01:58,640 --> 01:02:01,359
a lot of these things, whether it's uh

1503
01:02:01,359 --> 01:02:03,599
findings by the state, whether it's

1504
01:02:03,599 --> 01:02:06,640
financial issues and other deficiencies,

1505
01:02:06,640 --> 01:02:08,720
uh they were all kept out of plain view

1506
01:02:08,720 --> 01:02:10,559
and swept under the carpet. So when we

1507
01:02:10,559 --> 01:02:12,079
would ask the question of the former

1508
01:02:12,079 --> 01:02:14,480
administrator, how's it going? We would

1509
01:02:14,480 --> 01:02:16,000
always get the response, things are

1510
01:02:16,000 --> 01:02:17,440
great, you don't need to worry about

1511
01:02:17,440 --> 01:02:19,119
anything. We're good to go.

1512
01:02:19,119 --> 01:02:20,960
>> Okay. All right. I I understand that.

1513
01:02:20,960 --> 01:02:22,960
And you know, I've been sitting here

1514
01:02:22,960 --> 01:02:26,480
since 2006 and

1515
01:02:26,480 --> 01:02:28,480
you know, we had these issues back in

1516
01:02:28,480 --> 01:02:32,240
200 um 18 when we had that meeting and

1517
01:02:32,240 --> 01:02:33,760
um they popped up and then they

1518
01:02:33,760 --> 01:02:35,599
disappeared and like I say, there was

1519
01:02:35,599 --> 01:02:37,280
probably good excuses for that because

1520
01:02:37,280 --> 01:02:42,400
of the change in leadership. Um but um

1521
01:02:42,400 --> 01:02:44,960
anyway um there's been a there was asked

1522
01:02:44,960 --> 01:02:47,599
at the podium today about um the

1523
01:02:47,599 --> 01:02:53,030
committee or commission. Um

1524
01:02:53,040 --> 01:02:55,200
I'm going to make an amendment or some

1525
01:02:55,200 --> 01:02:57,119
maybe somebody else wants to. It doesn't

1526
01:02:57,119 --> 01:03:00,400
matter that we do change that 49-2 to

1527
01:03:00,400 --> 01:03:03,119
give some teeth to the committee.

1528
01:03:03,119 --> 01:03:05,920
um putting a committee in a place that

1529
01:03:05,920 --> 01:03:10,880
has no teeth to it that no power um

1530
01:03:10,880 --> 01:03:12,799
if they meet once a month or twice a

1531
01:03:12,799 --> 01:03:14,640
month and you know they're not happy

1532
01:03:14,640 --> 01:03:17,280
with the county um with the leadership

1533
01:03:17,280 --> 01:03:18,720
at the nursing home but there's nothing

1534
01:03:18,720 --> 01:03:20,880
they can do about it. um if they can

1535
01:03:20,880 --> 01:03:24,240
make a re recommendation for dismissal

1536
01:03:24,240 --> 01:03:26,640
if that's what they feed feel fe feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feels

1537
01:03:26,640 --> 01:03:27,920
need need to be done or if they can

1538
01:03:27,920 --> 01:03:30,720
recommend something to be done, it'll

1539
01:03:30,720 --> 01:03:33,359
give them more um more power. So I'll

1540
01:03:33,359 --> 01:03:35,599
try to make that amendment when we go. I

1541
01:03:35,599 --> 01:03:37,839
see we have a list of other amendments.

1542
01:03:37,839 --> 01:03:40,400
Um so anyway, thank you. That's all I

1543
01:03:40,400 --> 01:03:41,359
have.

1544
01:03:41,359 --> 01:03:41,680
>> Okay.

1545
01:03:41,680 --> 01:03:43,200
>> Yeah. Hold on. Hold on.

1546
01:03:43,200 --> 01:03:46,559
>> Yeah, Paul, question for you. Um,

1547
01:03:46,559 --> 01:03:49,200
currently right now, if something was to

1548
01:03:49,200 --> 01:03:51,839
happen at our nursing home, tragic, just

1549
01:03:51,839 --> 01:03:53,280
not I don't want to go into detail, but

1550
01:03:53,280 --> 01:03:56,000
if anything happens, who's liable for

1551
01:03:56,000 --> 01:03:58,400
that? Would that be the nursing home or

1552
01:03:58,400 --> 01:04:00,640
would that be the county as a whole?

1553
01:04:00,640 --> 01:04:03,520
Because I don't really know right now if

1554
01:04:03,520 --> 01:04:06,720
the county owns the we own the property

1555
01:04:06,720 --> 01:04:08,960
at the nursing home, but we don't own

1556
01:04:08,960 --> 01:04:11,359
the operation of the nursing home. And

1557
01:04:11,359 --> 01:04:13,359
that's that's my question. And I'm still

1558
01:04:13,359 --> 01:04:15,599
learning that because just on Friday we

1559
01:04:15,599 --> 01:04:17,440
found out that they do their taxes as a

1560
01:04:17,440 --> 01:04:19,920
nonprofit and I went and looked at their

1561
01:04:19,920 --> 01:04:22,240
application and it says Wakcomo Nursing

1562
01:04:22,240 --> 01:04:28,480
Home about county at all. And that's my concern is I don't know if

1563
01:04:28,480 --> 01:04:31,520
we're making legislation that

1564
01:04:31,520 --> 01:04:33,680
might be we might be jumping the gun on

1565
01:04:33,680 --> 01:04:35,920
this is is my question. Now I'm all

1566
01:04:35,920 --> 01:04:37,839
about let's set up an advisory board or

1567
01:04:37,839 --> 01:04:39,200
commission or something to get something

1568
01:04:39,200 --> 01:04:42,559
started. But my concern is is if we take

1569
01:04:42,559 --> 01:04:44,880
if we start putting Wakamiggo County

1570
01:04:44,880 --> 01:04:47,039
Nursing Home in legislation and

1571
01:04:47,039 --> 01:04:49,520
something happens and a lawyer sees this

1572
01:04:49,520 --> 01:04:51,039
and says, "Okay, well, this is a county

1573
01:04:51,039 --> 01:04:52,799
entity. Well, we're going to put them on

1574
01:04:52,799 --> 01:04:55,680
the hook as well with any liabilities."

1575
01:04:55,680 --> 01:04:58,240
Um, that's my concern right now. And I I

1576
01:04:58,240 --> 01:05:00,720
just want to make sure that we get this

1577
01:05:00,720 --> 01:05:04,319
straight now because, you know, if we

1578
01:05:04,319 --> 01:05:06,400
figure out we have to fix this months

1579
01:05:06,400 --> 01:05:08,960
from now and if something happens like

1580
01:05:08,960 --> 01:05:11,920
in a in a month or so, who's liable? Cuz

1581
01:05:11,920 --> 01:05:13,599
the county right now, if we pass this

1582
01:05:13,599 --> 01:05:15,680
the way it says

1583
01:05:15,680 --> 01:05:18,720
now, it's a county entity and according

1584
01:05:18,720 --> 01:05:21,119
to this legislation, we're taking

1585
01:05:21,119 --> 01:05:23,520
ownership of it. Now, are we going to be

1586
01:05:23,520 --> 01:05:25,839
liable? That's my question.

1587
01:05:25,839 --> 01:05:28,720
Well, that's a good question and I think

1588
01:05:28,720 --> 01:05:31,280
uh Josh actually started hitting it on

1589
01:05:31,280 --> 01:05:34,000
the head with his comments that the

1590
01:05:34,000 --> 01:05:38,400
nursing home has been there since 1972

1591
01:05:38,400 --> 01:05:42,240
as an entity we'll call it uh of the

1592
01:05:42,240 --> 01:05:43,680
county.

1593
01:05:43,680 --> 01:05:45,280
>> Um

1594
01:05:45,280 --> 01:05:47,359
one of the things that I think we need

1595
01:05:47,359 --> 01:05:50,720
to do is to define

1596
01:05:50,720 --> 01:05:53,920
much more than it can be done today. Uh

1597
01:05:53,920 --> 01:05:56,240
what is the relationship between the

1598
01:05:56,240 --> 01:06:00,640
county and that nursing home? Uh it is

1599
01:06:00,640 --> 01:06:03,119
not clear. Uh

1600
01:06:03,119 --> 01:06:04,960
>> now would this be making it more clear

1601
01:06:04,960 --> 01:06:07,839
that it's a county entity? That is my

1602
01:06:07,839 --> 01:06:10,720
recommendation for the future that we

1603
01:06:10,720 --> 01:06:14,319
figure this out that is it going to be a

1604
01:06:14,319 --> 01:06:17,039
nonprofit corporation

1605
01:06:17,039 --> 01:06:19,760
which the county will own the building

1606
01:06:19,760 --> 01:06:22,240
and the land and then there will be a

1607
01:06:22,240 --> 01:06:24,559
nonprofit corporation that would operate

1608
01:06:24,559 --> 01:06:28,079
the nursing home or is it going to be

1609
01:06:28,079 --> 01:06:30,640
just we'll say essentially a department

1610
01:06:30,640 --> 01:06:34,319
of Wcomako County? You ask the question,

1611
01:06:34,319 --> 01:06:38,319
if someone were to sue for an event

1612
01:06:38,319 --> 01:06:40,799
today,

1613
01:06:40,799 --> 01:06:43,200
they would probably sue Wakcomo County,

1614
01:06:43,200 --> 01:06:43,839
>> right?

1615
01:06:43,839 --> 01:06:48,480
>> Because there is no uh state recognized

1616
01:06:48,480 --> 01:06:51,599
entity called the Wagamo County Nursing

1617
01:06:51,599 --> 01:06:52,240
Home.

1618
01:06:52,240 --> 01:06:52,640
>> Yeah.

1619
01:06:52,640 --> 01:06:55,359
>> That that just doesn't exist.

1620
01:06:55,359 --> 01:06:59,520
>> Mr. A little question. Um I believe in a transaction you sent a letter you

1621
01:06:59,520 --> 01:07:01,200
sent to us. You were talking about the

1622
01:07:01,200 --> 01:07:03,920
deadline as far as uh appointing the

1623
01:07:03,920 --> 01:07:06,640
board. Um what I could you clarify for

1624
01:07:06,640 --> 01:07:10,079
the council and the public what the um

1625
01:07:10,079 --> 01:07:12,160
deadline is or the self-imposed deadline

1626
01:07:12,160 --> 01:07:14,559
is is for appointing a board for the

1627
01:07:14,559 --> 01:07:16,880
executive making recommendations.

1628
01:07:16,880 --> 01:07:18,240
I believe your letter stated it was

1629
01:07:18,240 --> 01:07:19,760
November 17th. I was trying to get a

1630
01:07:19,760 --> 01:07:20,480
clarification.

1631
01:07:20,480 --> 01:07:22,799
>> Yeah. Right. What I was suggesting, we

1632
01:07:22,799 --> 01:07:24,880
could make this regular legislation

1633
01:07:24,880 --> 01:07:28,000
instead of emergency legislation, which

1634
01:07:28,000 --> 01:07:31,039
if both the council and the executive

1635
01:07:31,039 --> 01:07:34,400
signed tomorrow, then 60 days later,

1636
01:07:34,400 --> 01:07:37,280
it's effective. I believe your your

1637
01:07:37,280 --> 01:07:40,319
letter did state that the executive was

1638
01:07:40,319 --> 01:07:42,160
uh

1639
01:07:42,160 --> 01:07:44,400
was with the understanding that that uh

1640
01:07:44,400 --> 01:07:47,440
that she would present these names to

1641
01:07:47,440 --> 01:07:49,760
this body by November 17th in your

1642
01:07:49,760 --> 01:07:51,839
letter. Correct. That that is correct.

1643
01:07:51,839 --> 01:07:54,960
If if this were regular legislation,

1644
01:07:54,960 --> 01:07:56,960
>> why would there be an if? I mean, we we

1645
01:07:56,960 --> 01:07:59,520
both agree that a board is essential.

1646
01:07:59,520 --> 01:08:01,119
Why would it what what what difference

1647
01:08:01,119 --> 01:08:02,400
would it make whether it was emergency

1648
01:08:02,400 --> 01:08:04,720
or non-emergency legislation?

1649
01:08:04,720 --> 01:08:06,592
>> Let's go down the different paths.

1650
01:08:06,592 --> 01:08:07,520
[clears throat]

1651
01:08:07,520 --> 01:08:11,440
Uh if it's emergency, then she does have

1652
01:08:11,440 --> 01:08:14,160
the right to veto.

1653
01:08:14,160 --> 01:08:15,280
Good.

1654
01:08:15,280 --> 01:08:18,880
>> And then you have the right to override

1655
01:08:18,880 --> 01:08:20,319
the veto.

1656
01:08:20,319 --> 01:08:22,319
and that is when it would become

1657
01:08:22,319 --> 01:08:24,400
officially effective. Now, that would

1658
01:08:24,400 --> 01:08:27,839
probably be sometime in later October

1659
01:08:27,839 --> 01:08:31,040
that that process would play out. If you

1660
01:08:31,040 --> 01:08:34,080
don't start looking for members of the

1661
01:08:34,080 --> 01:08:37,359
commission until later October, it

1662
01:08:37,359 --> 01:08:40,799
probably doesn't that process doesn't

1663
01:08:40,799 --> 01:08:44,000
get concluded by November 17th, the

1664
01:08:44,000 --> 01:08:45,237
second meeting.

1665
01:08:45,237 --> 01:08:45,440
>> [snorts]

1666
01:08:45,440 --> 01:08:46,880
>> So, it's a bit of a contradiction in

1667
01:08:46,880 --> 01:08:49,600
terms to say that um uh recommendations

1668
01:08:49,600 --> 01:08:51,600
should be made by November 11th, but

1669
01:08:51,600 --> 01:08:57,839
then to uh self-impose a delay purposely

1670
01:08:57,839 --> 01:09:00,319
and drag the whole process out. I just

1671
01:09:00,319 --> 01:09:02,159
was trying to get some understanding

1672
01:09:02,159 --> 01:09:04,159
that we both were in in agreement that

1673
01:09:04,159 --> 01:09:07,120
the November 17th was offered as a

1674
01:09:07,120 --> 01:09:10,080
deadline to get the uh board appointed

1675
01:09:10,080 --> 01:09:12,159
as soon as possible for the community. I

1676
01:09:12,159 --> 01:09:13,440
don't care at the council and and

1677
01:09:13,440 --> 01:09:15,839
executive for the community.

1678
01:09:15,839 --> 01:09:17,679
>> Well, what I tried to express in that

1679
01:09:17,679 --> 01:09:20,080
letter was

1680
01:09:20,080 --> 01:09:24,640
November 17th is a possible date when

1681
01:09:24,640 --> 01:09:26,319
that process of appointing the

1682
01:09:26,319 --> 01:09:28,560
commission could be completed when you

1683
01:09:28,560 --> 01:09:31,040
have your second meeting in November.

1684
01:09:31,040 --> 01:09:32,640
>> There would not be actually it would be

1685
01:09:32,640 --> 01:09:34,719
even easier for the executive to meet

1686
01:09:34,719 --> 01:09:36,799
that deadline if we pass it today as

1687
01:09:36,799 --> 01:09:38,719
emergency legislation.

1688
01:09:38,719 --> 01:09:41,759
>> Yeah. and and excuse me.

1689
01:09:41,759 --> 01:09:45,440
And and there is no veto.

1690
01:09:45,440 --> 01:09:48,480
>> Yeah. If if there were no veto, but as

1691
01:09:48,480 --> 01:09:51,120
you've heard, she she has reservations

1692
01:09:51,120 --> 01:09:52,880
about a couple of provisions in Just

1693
01:09:52,880 --> 01:09:53,759
want to make sure there's nothing

1694
01:09:53,759 --> 01:09:55,440
disingenuous here because if you say

1695
01:09:55,440 --> 01:09:57,760
you'd like to have the appointment,

1696
01:09:57,760 --> 01:09:59,360
if you don't mind, if you don't mind,

1697
01:09:59,360 --> 01:10:01,280
>> if you don't if you if you state that

1698
01:10:01,280 --> 01:10:03,600
it's going to be by November 17th, that

1699
01:10:03,600 --> 01:10:04,880
there's going to be a deadline and

1700
01:10:04,880 --> 01:10:05,600
everybody [clears throat] would like

1701
01:10:05,600 --> 01:10:07,920
that to happen and then to put some type

1702
01:10:07,920 --> 01:10:13,189
of a qualifier in there that oh, only

1703
01:10:13,199 --> 01:10:15,520
if it's not emergency legislation. I I I

1704
01:10:15,520 --> 01:10:16,960
don't get the hypocrisy in that.

1705
01:10:16,960 --> 01:10:19,120
>> Right. Before I was cut off, I was

1706
01:10:19,120 --> 01:10:22,000
trying to get into like the HR of the

1707
01:10:22,000 --> 01:10:24,480
county versus the HR of the nursing

1708
01:10:24,480 --> 01:10:27,199
home. So, when I went in there, I got to

1709
01:10:27,199 --> 01:10:30,400
see the book for the nursing home on the

1710
01:10:30,400 --> 01:10:35,440
handbook, and it is that thick. It's thicker than the King James Bible

1711
01:10:35,440 --> 01:10:38,080
is what I've been quoted.

1712
01:10:38,080 --> 01:10:41,199
Our HR department cannot even handle

1713
01:10:41,199 --> 01:10:43,760
with the nursing home HR. And that's why

1714
01:10:43,760 --> 01:10:45,920
they are supposed to have their own HR

1715
01:10:45,920 --> 01:10:48,080
department. And this is what I'm trying

1716
01:10:48,080 --> 01:10:50,000
to get at. It's not that I don't want a

1717
01:10:50,000 --> 01:10:51,360
commission. I absolutely want a

1718
01:10:51,360 --> 01:10:52,960
commission. I want an advisory board. I

1719
01:10:52,960 --> 01:10:54,080
actually want them to have their own

1720
01:10:54,080 --> 01:10:55,920
board of directors. [snorts] I want them

1721
01:10:55,920 --> 01:10:58,719
to be more independent to be able to

1722
01:10:58,719 --> 01:11:00,800
decide things for themselves. But the

1723
01:11:00,800 --> 01:11:02,719
question is is if we go ahead and and

1724
01:11:02,719 --> 01:11:04,719
pass legislation tonight to make it a

1725
01:11:04,719 --> 01:11:07,040
county entity, then what's that going to

1726
01:11:07,040 --> 01:11:09,199
do to our HR department? We don't even

1727
01:11:09,199 --> 01:11:12,400
have qualified people to uh to to hire

1728
01:11:12,400 --> 01:11:14,800
anyone at the nursing home because then

1729
01:11:14,800 --> 01:11:17,360
we would be liable for the hiring right

1730
01:11:17,360 --> 01:11:20,080
now. We don't have like they had to

1731
01:11:20,080 --> 01:11:21,760
something happened with they have an HR

1732
01:11:21,760 --> 01:11:23,679
department. No one's in there and that's

1733
01:11:23,679 --> 01:11:25,679
why Miss Cory's there right now. They

1734
01:11:25,679 --> 01:11:28,000
have a payroll department and they make

1735
01:11:28,000 --> 01:11:29,760
paychecks that are directly from the

1736
01:11:29,760 --> 01:11:32,800
nursing home, not from Wycom County. And

1737
01:11:32,800 --> 01:11:35,679
this is going to blur the lines even

1738
01:11:35,679 --> 01:11:40,640
more. And I I I I I wish I hope we can

1739
01:11:40,640 --> 01:11:42,880
maybe come to consensus that we can pass

1740
01:11:42,880 --> 01:11:49,120
a commission tonight or today and maybe table some of this so that like

1741
01:11:49,120 --> 01:11:51,760
the the uh hiring and firing of

1742
01:11:51,760 --> 01:11:54,159
personnel because I don't want to get us

1743
01:11:54,159 --> 01:11:56,239
confused on what's a county entity and

1744
01:11:56,239 --> 01:11:58,880
what's a what's the nonprofit entity of

1745
01:11:58,880 --> 01:12:01,120
the nursing home because if we can get

1746
01:12:01,120 --> 01:12:03,600
those confused then like I said if

1747
01:12:03,600 --> 01:12:05,199
something happens if if someone walks

1748
01:12:05,199 --> 01:12:07,440
out of that a nursing home gets run over

1749
01:12:07,440 --> 01:12:09,840
by a car. God forbid that ever. No, we

1750
01:12:09,840 --> 01:12:11,760
don't want that happening. But if that

1751
01:12:11,760 --> 01:12:14,560
did happen, who's liable? Is it the

1752
01:12:14,560 --> 01:12:16,560
county at a whole? Would that be a $3

1753
01:12:16,560 --> 01:12:18,239
million lawsuit that the county

1754
01:12:18,239 --> 01:12:20,400
taxpayers are have to take on or is that

1755
01:12:20,400 --> 01:12:22,400
something that the nonprofit entity

1756
01:12:22,400 --> 01:12:24,560
would take on? The these are big

1757
01:12:24,560 --> 01:12:26,560
concerns here and this legislation here

1758
01:12:26,560 --> 01:12:28,800
could be a pinnacle point on what the

1759
01:12:28,800 --> 01:12:30,400
future is for that nursing home. And we

1760
01:12:30,400 --> 01:12:32,080
need to be very thoughtful on that. And

1761
01:12:32,080 --> 01:12:34,159
I know we are rushed to get to a

1762
01:12:34,159 --> 01:12:36,320
decision here today, but we need to be

1763
01:12:36,320 --> 01:12:38,159
thoughtful before we go ahead and pull

1764
01:12:38,159 --> 01:12:41,280
the trigger on on um on making it a

1765
01:12:41,280 --> 01:12:43,520
county department or an entity or an

1766
01:12:43,520 --> 01:12:45,120
agency. Right now,

1767
01:12:45,120 --> 01:12:46,400
>> Benson,

1768
01:12:46,400 --> 01:12:48,560
>> I just make two points.

1769
01:12:48,560 --> 01:12:51,840
>> Thank you. Um, under section 508 of the

1770
01:12:51,840 --> 01:12:53,760
county charter, the county executive can

1771
01:12:53,760 --> 01:12:56,480
appoint designated uh can appoint for

1772
01:12:56,480 --> 01:12:58,640
designated periods uh one or more

1773
01:12:58,640 --> 01:13:00,480
advisory boards for the citizens of the

1774
01:13:00,480 --> 01:13:03,360
county. Um, so the county executive has

1775
01:13:03,360 --> 01:13:05,280
authority to have appointed the board

1776
01:13:05,280 --> 01:13:08,000
for the nursing home. Um, and it's

1777
01:13:08,000 --> 01:13:10,000
already in law. She could have appointed

1778
01:13:10,000 --> 01:13:11,679
the board six weeks ago. She could have

1779
01:13:11,679 --> 01:13:14,880
appointed in 2023. She hasn't done it.

1780
01:13:14,880 --> 01:13:17,760
So the that that the [clears throat]

1781
01:13:17,760 --> 01:13:21,760
fact this legislation isn't needed to

1782
01:13:21,760 --> 01:13:24,320
have her appoint a board, but she hasn't

1783
01:13:24,320 --> 01:13:26,000
appointed a board. So the legislation's

1784
01:13:26,000 --> 01:13:28,560
here to require a board to be appointed.

1785
01:13:28,560 --> 01:13:30,719
That's the first point. Second, in

1786
01:13:30,719 --> 01:13:34,800
answer to Mr. winds question. Um, in 20

1787
01:13:34,800 --> 01:13:37,760
in 1972, the

1788
01:13:37,760 --> 01:13:40,159
uh county adopted the county council

1789
01:13:40,159 --> 01:13:44,159
then in place uh passed a resolution or

1790
01:13:44,159 --> 01:13:47,199
ordinance and it said in that resolution

1791
01:13:47,199 --> 01:13:49,280
that the county is authorized and

1792
01:13:49,280 --> 01:13:53,040
empowered to acquire um uh the nursing

1793
01:13:53,040 --> 01:13:55,199
home and to maintain and operate the

1794
01:13:55,199 --> 01:13:57,760
nursing home. That's what it said in

1795
01:13:57,760 --> 01:13:59,520
1972.

1796
01:13:59,520 --> 01:14:03,280
Um that that code that legislative bill

1797
01:14:03,280 --> 01:14:07,679
was put in code codified uh in 19 in

1798
01:14:07,679 --> 01:14:10,159
2006 when the executive went in uh came

1799
01:14:10,159 --> 01:14:14,400
into being in Wamco County. The then

1800
01:14:14,400 --> 01:14:18,080
county council uh removed that codified

1801
01:14:18,080 --> 01:14:20,960
section from the county code. There is

1802
01:14:20,960 --> 01:14:22,880
currently no mention in either the

1803
01:14:22,880 --> 01:14:25,600
charter or the code of the Wcomu County

1804
01:14:25,600 --> 01:14:29,040
uh nursing home. Um, so we're in a area

1805
01:14:29,040 --> 01:14:30,960
where we don't have any guidance in

1806
01:14:30,960 --> 01:14:32,880
writing as to what the relationship is

1807
01:14:32,880 --> 01:14:35,440
between the county um and the nursing

1808
01:14:35,440 --> 01:14:40,239
home. That being said, uh I found out

1809
01:14:40,239 --> 01:14:45,600
yesterday that in 2020 in 2020, the then

1810
01:14:45,600 --> 01:14:48,480
nursing home administrator executed a

1811
01:14:48,480 --> 01:14:52,239
contract um for medical testing at the

1812
01:14:52,239 --> 01:14:56,560
nursing home. Um that contract ended up

1813
01:14:56,560 --> 01:14:59,840
in a lawsuit being filed for over

1814
01:14:59,840 --> 01:15:01,760
$500,000.

1815
01:15:01,760 --> 01:15:05,199
And in that lawsuit, the plaintiff sued

1816
01:15:05,199 --> 01:15:07,040
and the only defendant that they sued

1817
01:15:07,040 --> 01:15:10,000
was Wakcomo County, not the nursing

1818
01:15:10,000 --> 01:15:14,239
home, Wakcomo County. Um and in uh the

1819
01:15:14,239 --> 01:15:17,440
complaint that was filed, the com the

1820
01:15:17,440 --> 01:15:20,400
plaintiff in that case asserted that the

1821
01:15:20,400 --> 01:15:22,400
defendant owns and operates the nursing

1822
01:15:22,400 --> 01:15:24,960
home. owns and operates their nursing

1823
01:15:24,960 --> 01:15:28,000
home. Um, [clears throat] and the law

1824
01:15:28,000 --> 01:15:31,280
department defended that lawsuit and in

1825
01:15:31,280 --> 01:15:33,600
the uh answer that the law department

1826
01:15:33,600 --> 01:15:36,239
filed, they admitted that Wakamo County

1827
01:15:36,239 --> 01:15:39,040
owns and operates the nursing home. So,

1828
01:15:39,040 --> 01:15:41,440
the law department admits that that and

1829
01:15:41,440 --> 01:15:43,600
says that the nur nursing home is owned

1830
01:15:43,600 --> 01:15:47,679
and operated by nurs.

1831
01:15:47,679 --> 01:15:49,840
the law department and the executive

1832
01:15:49,840 --> 01:15:51,920
settled that lawsuit without notice to

1833
01:15:51,920 --> 01:15:54,400
the W County to the Wakano County

1834
01:15:54,400 --> 01:15:57,440
Council. Um, but they settled it for

1835
01:15:57,440 --> 01:15:59,280
$400,000.

1836
01:15:59,280 --> 01:16:01,520
>> Why is it that Sorry, but why is it that

1837
01:16:01,520 --> 01:16:03,120
when they do their finish? Did you

1838
01:16:03,120 --> 01:16:03,760
finish? I'm sorry.

1839
01:16:03,760 --> 01:16:06,400
>> So, in answer to Mr. win's question.

1840
01:16:06,400 --> 01:16:08,960
There's no question that W if in his

1841
01:16:08,960 --> 01:16:12,000
scenario if somebody if a catastrophic

1842
01:16:12,000 --> 01:16:14,400
event occurred at the nursing home it

1843
01:16:14,400 --> 01:16:16,080
would be Wcomo County and the citizens

1844
01:16:16,080 --> 01:16:19,520
of Wcomo County that would be liable for

1845
01:16:19,520 --> 01:16:22,159
that damage and that's what has already

1846
01:16:22,159 --> 01:16:26,159
been admitted by the law department in law in this lawsuit. It may have been

1847
01:16:26,159 --> 01:16:27,920
admitted in other lawsuits. I don't know

1848
01:16:27,920 --> 01:16:31,199
about other lawsuits. Um because if one

1849
01:16:31,199 --> 01:16:35,199
tries to find um if you go in and look

1850
01:16:35,199 --> 01:16:38,000
up lawsuits for Wam against Wakamako

1851
01:16:38,000 --> 01:16:40,880
County, there literally are thousands

1852
01:16:40,880 --> 01:16:44,000
um for Wamo County and if it doesn't

1853
01:16:44,000 --> 01:16:47,120
mention the nursing home, you can't find

1854
01:16:47,120 --> 01:16:51,040
any you you can't locate those uh cases.

1855
01:16:51,040 --> 01:16:55,440
This one we found indirectly. Um so the

1856
01:16:55,440 --> 01:16:58,080
bottom line is unfortunately Wamo County

1857
01:16:58,080 --> 01:17:00,880
already operates the nursing home. Wcomo

1858
01:17:00,880 --> 01:17:02,800
county is already liable for everything

1859
01:17:02,800 --> 01:17:04,880
that happens at the nursing home. If

1860
01:17:04,880 --> 01:17:07,199
there is a contract that is defaulted on

1861
01:17:07,199 --> 01:17:09,280
by the nursing home, it is Wcomo County

1862
01:17:09,280 --> 01:17:11,600
and the taxpayers of Wcomo County who

1863
01:17:11,600 --> 01:17:13,600
will be sued for that have already been

1864
01:17:13,600 --> 01:17:16,320
sued for it and have have had liability

1865
01:17:16,320 --> 01:17:19,679
on it. Um so it's an unfortunate

1866
01:17:19,679 --> 01:17:24,400
situation. Um the reality is that as

1867
01:17:24,400 --> 01:17:28,080
this this situation with the nursing

1868
01:17:28,080 --> 01:17:29,920
home has come forward in the last 6

1869
01:17:29,920 --> 01:17:36,709
weeks, the more information that we find

1870
01:17:36,719 --> 01:17:39,120
it's a situation where Wakcom County has

1871
01:17:39,120 --> 01:17:41,120
been extremely lucky for 50 years. The

1872
01:17:41,120 --> 01:17:43,600
nursing home has operated for 50 years

1873
01:17:43,600 --> 01:17:45,440
and there haven't been any significant

1874
01:17:45,440 --> 01:17:47,760
problems in those 50 years. Mhm.

1875
01:17:47,760 --> 01:17:49,760
>> But it's a matter of luck and the

1876
01:17:49,760 --> 01:17:51,840
question is with Wcomo County going to

1877
01:17:51,840 --> 01:17:54,560
go ahead for another 50 years and hope

1878
01:17:54,560 --> 01:17:58,400
that they that the that the past is

1879
01:17:58,400 --> 01:18:00,560
prologue and that we don't have any

1880
01:18:00,560 --> 01:18:03,040
problems in the future. The this

1881
01:18:03,040 --> 01:18:05,440
legislation is there to try to establish

1882
01:18:05,440 --> 01:18:08,640
some um

1883
01:18:08,640 --> 01:18:12,800
regular you know operating um facility

1884
01:18:12,800 --> 01:18:16,640
or operating um method for the nursing

1885
01:18:16,640 --> 01:18:20,320
home. And it is to to mandate that a a

1886
01:18:20,320 --> 01:18:24,080
committee be established and then it is

1887
01:18:24,080 --> 01:18:25,840
my presumption that that committee will

1888
01:18:25,840 --> 01:18:28,239
go in and review the nursing home and

1889
01:18:28,239 --> 01:18:30,239
make recommendations back to the county

1890
01:18:30,239 --> 01:18:32,800
executive and the county executive about

1891
01:18:32,800 --> 01:18:34,960
and the county council about what things

1892
01:18:34,960 --> 01:18:38,159
should occur at that nursing home. And I

1893
01:18:38,159 --> 01:18:40,640
have talked to Mr. Wilbur, and I agree

1894
01:18:40,640 --> 01:18:42,640
fully that one of the things the county

1895
01:18:42,640 --> 01:18:45,040
ought to look at is creating a

1896
01:18:45,040 --> 01:18:48,640
nonprofit, non-stock corporation that

1897
01:18:48,640 --> 01:18:50,719
owns the nursing home.

1898
01:18:50,719 --> 01:18:53,040
>> Um, and the county would be the sole

1899
01:18:53,040 --> 01:18:55,679
owner of that non-stock, non-county

1900
01:18:55,679 --> 01:18:58,640
nursing home. But if you did that, the

1901
01:18:58,640 --> 01:19:01,760
questions about who the employees are,

1902
01:19:01,760 --> 01:19:03,520
they would work for the nonprofit

1903
01:19:03,520 --> 01:19:06,320
corporation that would be created.

1904
01:19:06,320 --> 01:19:07,600
There wouldn't be any questions to

1905
01:19:07,600 --> 01:19:09,360
whether they're county employees or not

1906
01:19:09,360 --> 01:19:11,280
county employees because right now we

1907
01:19:11,280 --> 01:19:14,080
have a situation where as I understand

1908
01:19:14,080 --> 01:19:16,159
it the county employees receive

1909
01:19:16,159 --> 01:19:18,800
paychecks that are not county paychecks

1910
01:19:18,800 --> 01:19:21,360
but when they retire they get county

1911
01:19:21,360 --> 01:19:22,880
retirement funds.

1912
01:19:22,880 --> 01:19:25,280
>> They're like half county employees and

1913
01:19:25,280 --> 01:19:28,560
not half county employees. And if we in

1914
01:19:28,560 --> 01:19:32,560
the future fix this, um, that would be

1915
01:19:32,560 --> 01:19:34,480
wonderful, but it can't be fixed in the

1916
01:19:34,480 --> 01:19:37,920
6 weeks since this came up and this this

1917
01:19:37,920 --> 01:19:40,719
problem was discovered. So, in answer to

1918
01:19:40,719 --> 01:19:43,440
Mr. W's question, it's already being

1919
01:19:43,440 --> 01:19:45,760
operated by the county. If there's a

1920
01:19:45,760 --> 01:19:48,080
catastrophic event at the law at that

1921
01:19:48,080 --> 01:19:50,320
location, the lawyers are already going

1922
01:19:50,320 --> 01:19:53,040
to sue Wakcomo County. When they file

1923
01:19:53,040 --> 01:19:54,800
suit against the nursing home over

1924
01:19:54,800 --> 01:19:56,960
something, they serve Mr. Wilbur, they

1925
01:19:56,960 --> 01:19:59,120
serve Julie Girardano. They serve Bunky

1926
01:19:59,120 --> 01:20:00,960
Luffman. They don't serve the nursing

1927
01:20:00,960 --> 01:20:04,640
home director. They are Wcomo County is

1928
01:20:04,640 --> 01:20:06,800
the nursing home.

1929
01:20:06,800 --> 01:20:08,159
>> That's it.

1930
01:20:08,159 --> 01:20:10,719
>> Thank you. May I May I

1931
01:20:10,719 --> 01:20:12,880
>> Jeff? No. Yes. Danny's got something.

1932
01:20:12,880 --> 01:20:14,719
>> I'm going to read something first

1933
01:20:14,719 --> 01:20:16,640
because the last time I open my big

1934
01:20:16,640 --> 01:20:18,719
mouth, I went on a

1935
01:20:18,719 --> 01:20:20,560
>> little

1936
01:20:20,560 --> 01:20:23,920
>> meanness, I guess you want to call it.

1937
01:20:23,920 --> 01:20:26,000
But I have to tell it like I feel that

1938
01:20:26,000 --> 01:20:28,239
is I I'm supporting this emergency

1939
01:20:28,239 --> 01:20:30,080
legislation

1940
01:20:30,080 --> 01:20:34,880
um that involves the nursing home and um

1941
01:20:34,880 --> 01:20:37,840
the when James brought up the HR

1942
01:20:37,840 --> 01:20:40,000
department, they did have a HR

1943
01:20:40,000 --> 01:20:41,760
department

1944
01:20:41,760 --> 01:20:44,480
but it was outsourced

1945
01:20:44,480 --> 01:20:47,040
and and also the faithful employees are

1946
01:20:47,040 --> 01:20:49,760
leaving from fear of being fired that

1947
01:20:49,760 --> 01:20:51,920
would cause them to lose their time,

1948
01:20:51,920 --> 01:20:53,280
their vacation time whether it be a

1949
01:20:53,280 --> 01:20:55,040
cruise

1950
01:20:55,040 --> 01:20:56,880
Also, the First Amendment has been

1951
01:20:56,880 --> 01:20:59,679
threatened by ordering a gag order to

1952
01:20:59,679 --> 01:21:02,239
the employees if they open their mouth

1953
01:21:02,239 --> 01:21:04,719
about the nursing home.

1954
01:21:04,719 --> 01:21:07,920
The majority of the employees are people

1955
01:21:07,920 --> 01:21:11,360
of color and women.

1956
01:21:11,360 --> 01:21:14,080
What does that say about our county on

1957
01:21:14,080 --> 01:21:18,709
the treatment of these employees?

1958
01:21:18,719 --> 01:21:22,320
The question also arises why are county

1959
01:21:22,320 --> 01:21:25,040
employees have any authority at the

1960
01:21:25,040 --> 01:21:27,920
nursing home? But one of the questions

1961
01:21:27,920 --> 01:21:31,920
has been asked by Mr. Benson. So what

1962
01:21:31,920 --> 01:21:34,960
should have happened was the county

1963
01:21:34,960 --> 01:21:37,280
executive when this issue came up the

1964
01:21:37,280 --> 01:21:39,679
county executive should have met. We

1965
01:21:39,679 --> 01:21:42,080
should requested a work session to come

1966
01:21:42,080 --> 01:21:44,320
up with a plan instead of foreign people

1967
01:21:44,320 --> 01:21:46,800
that's already in place. come up with

1968
01:21:46,800 --> 01:21:48,800
some kind of strategic plan as Josh had

1969
01:21:48,800 --> 01:21:52,400
talked about to see how we could

1970
01:21:52,400 --> 01:21:54,400
straighten this out. But what you do,

1971
01:21:54,400 --> 01:21:56,560
you you went in and fired people that

1972
01:21:56,560 --> 01:22:00,480
worked their 18 years, uh 20 years, 10

1973
01:22:00,480 --> 01:22:03,120
years, 5 years, who were dedicated

1974
01:22:03,120 --> 01:22:04,800
employees.

1975
01:22:04,800 --> 01:22:08,080
And instead of firing them should if you

1976
01:22:08,080 --> 01:22:12,000
should have learned from them. And if it

1977
01:22:12,000 --> 01:22:14,000
was any problems that were being that

1978
01:22:14,000 --> 01:22:16,320
was being done wrong, saying human

1979
01:22:16,320 --> 01:22:18,480
resources or finance, you should have

1980
01:22:18,480 --> 01:22:21,440
helped them to correct it and train them

1981
01:22:21,440 --> 01:22:23,199
on the procedures that you wanted the

1982
01:22:23,199 --> 01:22:25,360
county to wanted wanted them to follow

1983
01:22:25,360 --> 01:22:28,719
what the county said. But instead, you

1984
01:22:28,719 --> 01:22:35,040
went in there and just caused a

1985
01:22:35,040 --> 01:22:39,920
I say a a drastic change. just changed

1986
01:22:39,920 --> 01:22:41,920
overnight. Foreign people. I almost

1987
01:22:41,920 --> 01:22:48,480
thought it was Elon Musk in the in the um nursing home. Like Elon Musk

1988
01:22:48,480 --> 01:22:51,040
came and just for everybody made it

1989
01:22:51,040 --> 01:22:53,520
worse. It didn't make it better. And the

1990
01:22:53,520 --> 01:22:56,880
question arise is

1991
01:22:56,880 --> 01:23:00,159
the question I have now, the hope I have

1992
01:23:00,159 --> 01:23:03,440
is that would bring back the family

1993
01:23:03,440 --> 01:23:06,320
environment between the residents and

1994
01:23:06,320 --> 01:23:08,719
the employees.

1995
01:23:08,719 --> 01:23:12,880
And then um the last the I won't say

1996
01:23:12,880 --> 01:23:14,800
lastly but the other the question I have

1997
01:23:14,800 --> 01:23:17,520
for Mr. Lacken all this stuff that you

1998
01:23:17,520 --> 01:23:20,560
said was swept under the under the rug

1999
01:23:20,560 --> 01:23:24,560
and under it didn't do right.

2000
01:23:24,560 --> 01:23:26,800
Where's the proof that you gave the

2001
01:23:26,800 --> 01:23:29,679
county council? We have we I don't think

2002
01:23:29,679 --> 01:23:32,000
we received any information about Have

2003
01:23:32,000 --> 01:23:33,520
we received any information?

2004
01:23:33,520 --> 01:23:35,280
>> Well, they did try to do a close session

2005
01:23:35,280 --> 01:23:36,560
with us. I don't know if you remember

2006
01:23:36,560 --> 01:23:38,960
that. I've heard the county executive

2007
01:23:38,960 --> 01:23:40,400
department came to us in a close

2008
01:23:40,400 --> 01:23:40,719
session.

2009
01:23:40,719 --> 01:23:41,840
>> Yeah. But he didn't talk about the

2010
01:23:41,840 --> 01:23:43,600
problems that we didn't have the

2011
01:23:43,600 --> 01:23:45,679
documentation 30 minutes less than.

2012
01:23:45,679 --> 01:23:47,760
>> Yeah. But what I'm saying is we needed

2013
01:23:47,760 --> 01:23:50,159
the documentation, proof of the

2014
01:23:50,159 --> 01:23:53,040
wrongdoing and who did it and what all

2015
01:23:53,040 --> 01:23:54,880
this stuff that's been accused. See,

2016
01:23:54,880 --> 01:23:56,320
we're talking about people being accused

2017
01:23:56,320 --> 01:23:57,840
of stuff, but if you stand up there and

2018
01:23:57,840 --> 01:23:59,199
say something was mismanaged or

2019
01:23:59,199 --> 01:24:01,199
whatever, where is where why didn't we

2020
01:24:01,199 --> 01:24:04,560
come before a council and say this is

2021
01:24:04,560 --> 01:24:06,480
why we're doing such and s such thing?

2022
01:24:06,480 --> 01:24:08,719
This is why we're over here. This is why

2023
01:24:08,719 --> 01:24:10,480
they need training. But what you did,

2024
01:24:10,480 --> 01:24:13,520
you the RNs have left. The maintenance

2025
01:24:13,520 --> 01:24:16,560
man's left. The the the activist woman's

2026
01:24:16,560 --> 01:24:18,719
left cuz she's scared. Been there 18

2027
01:24:18,719 --> 01:24:21,679
years. So why are these people leaving

2028
01:24:21,679 --> 01:24:24,320
if everything's fine? I quite sure the

2029
01:24:24,320 --> 01:24:26,480
activities director is sweeping up the

2030
01:24:26,480 --> 01:24:28,880
rug because she was wheeling people in

2031
01:24:28,880 --> 01:24:30,800
and and help and activity. That's what

2032
01:24:30,800 --> 01:24:32,560
I'm that's bottom line. But I'm not

2033
01:24:32,560 --> 01:24:33,760
going to go on tangent cuz I'm getting

2034
01:24:33,760 --> 01:24:37,760
mad right now. So lastly, I'm saying

2035
01:24:37,760 --> 01:24:41,199
with this drastic change, the question

2036
01:24:41,199 --> 01:24:43,600
is who is suffering?

2037
01:24:43,600 --> 01:24:46,960
And the answer is the residents.

2038
01:24:46,960 --> 01:24:48,800
That's the that is the that is who's

2039
01:24:48,800 --> 01:24:53,760
suffering. Not the executive, not me,

2040
01:24:53,760 --> 01:24:55,920
not the employ the employees are

2041
01:24:55,920 --> 01:24:57,360
suffering because some of them have lost

2042
01:24:57,360 --> 01:24:58,960
their job and on the employ un

2043
01:24:58,960 --> 01:25:02,159
unemployment uh roles in in in case

2044
01:25:02,159 --> 01:25:04,480
their their unemployment's being

2045
01:25:04,480 --> 01:25:06,400
approved cuz some of the unemployment

2046
01:25:06,400 --> 01:25:08,080
people not even getting their employ

2047
01:25:08,080 --> 01:25:10,880
unemployment approved. So you're

2048
01:25:10,880 --> 01:25:13,840
creating a hardship among the employees

2049
01:25:13,840 --> 01:25:15,760
cuz it shows me you don't care about

2050
01:25:15,760 --> 01:25:18,480
people. And that's what it's all about

2051
01:25:18,480 --> 01:25:21,440
caring about people. And if you don't

2052
01:25:21,440 --> 01:25:23,520
care about people, you don't need to be

2053
01:25:23,520 --> 01:25:26,480
in this position. The politicians are

2054
01:25:26,480 --> 01:25:28,480
supposed to be servants of the people.

2055
01:25:28,480 --> 01:25:30,239
The county employees are supposed to be

2056
01:25:30,239 --> 01:25:31,520
servants of the people because the

2057
01:25:31,520 --> 01:25:34,719
taxpayers are paying your salary.

2058
01:25:34,719 --> 01:25:37,199
And we're supposed to have compassion,

2059
01:25:37,199 --> 01:25:40,080
not threaten, not threats. and all this

2060
01:25:40,080 --> 01:25:42,400
kind of stuff to a people cuz they're

2061
01:25:42,400 --> 01:25:44,639
human beings. They got the same heart,

2062
01:25:44,639 --> 01:25:46,800
lungs, and everything that you have. You

2063
01:25:46,800 --> 01:25:48,880
may have a little more than somebody

2064
01:25:48,880 --> 01:25:50,800
else. You may have author authority.

2065
01:25:50,800 --> 01:25:52,944
Only one in control is the Lord.

2066
01:25:52,944 --> 01:25:55,440
[snorts] Remember that.

2067
01:25:55,440 --> 01:25:58,719
The only one in control. So, somebody's

2068
01:25:58,719 --> 01:26:00,960
looking down on how people are being

2069
01:26:00,960 --> 01:26:01,920
treated.

2070
01:26:01,920 --> 01:26:02,560
>> Yeah.

2071
01:26:02,560 --> 01:26:05,360
>> And don't forget, karma is something.

2072
01:26:05,360 --> 01:26:07,360
>> That's all I got to say. I I'm just

2073
01:26:07,360 --> 01:26:08,800
going to state I think you did get

2074
01:26:08,800 --> 01:26:11,679
emails on the um the problems that we

2075
01:26:11,679 --> 01:26:12,639
were having at the

2076
01:26:12,639 --> 01:26:14,239
>> Well, I want proof. I don't want email.

2077
01:26:14,239 --> 01:26:15,760
>> No, no, they were in email.

2078
01:26:15,760 --> 01:26:17,920
>> I want printed out and I wanted somebody

2079
01:26:17,920 --> 01:26:20,960
to sit down and face me.

2080
01:26:20,960 --> 01:26:22,239
>> Well, we tried to have another closed

2081
01:26:22,239 --> 01:26:22,639
session.

2082
01:26:22,639 --> 01:26:24,080
>> Well, you didn't have it. It didn't have

2083
01:26:24,080 --> 01:26:25,199
>> Well, we went right to emergency

2084
01:26:25,199 --> 01:26:25,840
legislation.

2085
01:26:25,840 --> 01:26:26,960
>> So, you you already made your point.

2086
01:26:26,960 --> 01:26:28,239
>> You're proving your point that you don't

2087
01:26:28,239 --> 01:26:28,880
want to work with any

2088
01:26:28,880 --> 01:26:30,159
>> I don't you haven't heard I heard your

2089
01:26:30,159 --> 01:26:32,480
mouth. I'm I'm finished.

2090
01:26:32,480 --> 01:26:33,440
>> Oh my god,

2091
01:26:33,440 --> 01:26:35,440
>> Jeff.

2092
01:26:35,440 --> 01:26:38,159
I just um with regards to the nonprofit

2093
01:26:38,159 --> 01:26:39,520
thing, it was brought to my attention

2094
01:26:39,520 --> 01:26:41,600
over the weekend that the uh nursing

2095
01:26:41,600 --> 01:26:44,320
home was a nonprofit and I went through

2096
01:26:44,320 --> 01:26:46,800
a rather enormous amount of paper um

2097
01:26:46,800 --> 01:26:49,120
probably five times what Councilman Enis

2098
01:26:49,120 --> 01:26:52,080
has sitting right there and I did find

2099
01:26:52,080 --> 01:26:55,280
uh the uh EIN documentation that was

2100
01:26:55,280 --> 01:26:57,440
sent to us a week or so ago where it was

2101
01:26:57,440 --> 01:27:00,639
written by hand at the top of it.

2102
01:27:00,639 --> 01:27:02,719
Nonprofit that that's not an official

2103
01:27:02,719 --> 01:27:05,120
document. I don't know who wrote it. I

2104
01:27:05,120 --> 01:27:06,639
That's the only thing I could find that

2105
01:27:06,639 --> 01:27:08,080
references the nursing home as a

2106
01:27:08,080 --> 01:27:09,600
nonprofit.

2107
01:27:09,600 --> 01:27:11,440
So, we don't know what it is. It's not

2108
01:27:11,440 --> 01:27:15,040
an agency. It's not a department. Um,

2109
01:27:15,040 --> 01:27:17,679
it's got to be something.

2110
01:27:17,679 --> 01:27:19,840
Employees don't work for the county.

2111
01:27:19,840 --> 01:27:22,639
Paychecks aren't county paychecks.

2112
01:27:22,639 --> 01:27:24,719
They enjoy paying into the county

2113
01:27:24,719 --> 01:27:27,360
retirement plan. They get county health

2114
01:27:27,360 --> 01:27:29,760
benefits.

2115
01:27:29,760 --> 01:27:32,800
It's It's like it's in limbo. We have to

2116
01:27:32,800 --> 01:27:37,199
fix this sooner the better. Not not in

2117
01:27:37,199 --> 01:27:39,440
November. Sooner the better. It should

2118
01:27:39,440 --> 01:27:41,679
have been fixed weeks ago. It could have

2119
01:27:41,679 --> 01:27:45,040
been very easily fixed weeks ago if

2120
01:27:45,040 --> 01:27:46,960
somebody had sent the council president

2121
01:27:46,960 --> 01:27:49,360
or the council an email saying, "We got

2122
01:27:49,360 --> 01:27:52,719
problems. We need to have a work session

2123
01:27:52,719 --> 01:27:54,800
and work this out."

2124
01:27:54,800 --> 01:27:57,199
>> That never happened. M

2125
01:27:57,199 --> 01:28:00,400
>> as as usual, the council finds out from

2126
01:28:00,400 --> 01:28:04,080
the public. I got almost three pages of

2127
01:28:04,080 --> 01:28:05,679
council comments, so I'll save most of

2128
01:28:05,679 --> 01:28:08,159
it for later. But, uh, [snorts] as

2129
01:28:08,159 --> 01:28:10,400
usual, we find out from the public after

2130
01:28:10,400 --> 01:28:12,560
the fire has not only been lit, it's

2131
01:28:12,560 --> 01:28:14,320
raging,

2132
01:28:14,320 --> 01:28:16,400
and we got to come in the room with two

2133
01:28:16,400 --> 01:28:18,719
fire extinguishers.

2134
01:28:18,719 --> 01:28:22,560
So, thank you all for coming today. Y

2135
01:28:22,560 --> 01:28:25,360
>> um, some weeks ago and piggybacking on

2136
01:28:25,360 --> 01:28:27,040
what, uh, Mr. Mayor just said we

2137
01:28:27,040 --> 01:28:28,560
requested

2138
01:28:28,560 --> 01:28:32,239
uh a copy of the W9 and the EIN and they

2139
01:28:32,239 --> 01:28:34,639
were it was a separate EIN. It was in

2140
01:28:34,639 --> 01:28:37,520
the name of Y Comic Nursing Home uh as

2141
01:28:37,520 --> 01:28:41,600
was the as was the W9. But understand uh

2142
01:28:41,600 --> 01:28:44,800
W9 has two things on it. It's the legal

2143
01:28:44,800 --> 01:28:49,440
entity as well as uh tax and accounting.

2144
01:28:49,440 --> 01:28:51,920
So uh and I followed up with this

2145
01:28:51,920 --> 01:28:53,920
question. Never got an answer. What is

2146
01:28:53,920 --> 01:28:55,760
the entity? So, I figured out the answer

2147
01:28:55,760 --> 01:28:58,000
was there is none. There is no legal

2148
01:28:58,000 --> 01:29:00,320
entity. And to Mr. Wilbur's point,

2149
01:29:00,320 --> 01:29:02,239
everything and to Mr. Benson's as well,

2150
01:29:02,239 --> 01:29:04,000
everything is going to fall back on the

2151
01:29:04,000 --> 01:29:07,679
county and it already has. Uh so, uh

2152
01:29:07,679 --> 01:29:09,520
there there's it seems to me there's

2153
01:29:09,520 --> 01:29:11,840
three steps here. The first step is what

2154
01:29:11,840 --> 01:29:13,600
we're going to do today and trying to

2155
01:29:13,600 --> 01:29:16,960
take immediate action for real concerns.

2156
01:29:16,960 --> 01:29:19,600
I'm I do not want to hear any more about

2157
01:29:19,600 --> 01:29:21,120
that. These are false concerns. I've got

2158
01:29:21,120 --> 01:29:22,639
a letter that I received yesterday and I

2159
01:29:22,639 --> 01:29:25,199
may read some excerpts from it uh that I

2160
01:29:25,199 --> 01:29:27,040
think are uh pretty descriptive of

2161
01:29:27,040 --> 01:29:28,719
what's really been happening there and

2162
01:29:28,719 --> 01:29:30,159
there there has been a lot of

2163
01:29:30,159 --> 01:29:32,159
misinformation information flowing

2164
01:29:32,159 --> 01:29:34,960
around. So this is step one to put a

2165
01:29:34,960 --> 01:29:37,520
commission in place that will uh give

2166
01:29:37,520 --> 01:29:39,199
some immediate oversight even though

2167
01:29:39,199 --> 01:29:40,880
when I say immediate it's going to take

2168
01:29:40,880 --> 01:29:42,560
some time and I'm glad that we are doing

2169
01:29:42,560 --> 01:29:43,920
this as emergency. It's going to take

2170
01:29:43,920 --> 01:29:45,360
some time before we actually see the

2171
01:29:45,360 --> 01:29:47,840
results of that. That's step one. And

2172
01:29:47,840 --> 01:29:49,360
now I'll say that may be like a

2173
01:29:49,360 --> 01:29:52,320
band-aid. Uh, another step which you can

2174
01:29:52,320 --> 01:29:54,642
start right away is to circle back.

2175
01:29:54,642 --> 01:29:56,639
[laughter] What does this entity need to

2176
01:29:56,639 --> 01:29:58,560
be? Do we need to set up a separate I

2177
01:29:58,560 --> 01:30:01,280
think it probably does separate or uh uh

2178
01:30:01,280 --> 01:30:04,000
entity and uh and then additionally

2179
01:30:04,000 --> 01:30:06,400
what's the relationship with Y chemico

2180
01:30:06,400 --> 01:30:09,440
from an operational standpoint? Uh is it

2181
01:30:09,440 --> 01:30:12,320
a department? Um you know is it an

2182
01:30:12,320 --> 01:30:14,560
enterprise fund? And my opinion is

2183
01:30:14,560 --> 01:30:17,120
clearly it's not at this time.

2184
01:30:17,120 --> 01:30:19,360
>> Uh and we also need to think about what

2185
01:30:19,360 --> 01:30:24,080
is our commitment to keeping this gem of

2186
01:30:24,080 --> 01:30:26,880
an institution that we've had for 54

2187
01:30:26,880 --> 01:30:28,639
years together. I think that we've got

2188
01:30:28,639 --> 01:30:31,040
some responsibility or at least I feel

2189
01:30:31,040 --> 01:30:33,360
that way to continue this. And if you

2190
01:30:33,360 --> 01:30:35,840
look at how much has been subsidized

2191
01:30:35,840 --> 01:30:38,080
over 54 years and you put it on a yearly

2192
01:30:38,080 --> 01:30:41,679
basis, it's not that much. Uh we spend

2193
01:30:41,679 --> 01:30:44,239
$70 million on education. We spend $68

2194
01:30:44,239 --> 01:30:47,280
million on public safety. Uh and this is

2195
01:30:47,280 --> 01:30:48,880
a discussion. This is not a discussion

2196
01:30:48,880 --> 01:30:50,560
that I'm going to uh I'm not going to

2197
01:30:50,560 --> 01:30:52,159
make this point here. That that's my

2198
01:30:52,159 --> 01:30:53,920
feelings about it. This is something we

2199
01:30:53,920 --> 01:30:56,719
need collectively to look at. So step

2200
01:30:56,719 --> 01:30:59,920
one, form the commission. Two, go back

2201
01:30:59,920 --> 01:31:01,679
and we can do this simultaneously. Look

2202
01:31:01,679 --> 01:31:03,520
at the organization.

2203
01:31:03,520 --> 01:31:05,679
Step three, Josh mentioned something

2204
01:31:05,679 --> 01:31:09,679
about uh no uh strategic plan. And

2205
01:31:09,679 --> 01:31:11,280
there's also been mention about the

2206
01:31:11,280 --> 01:31:15,040
November 20th, 2018 meeting, which I

2207
01:31:15,040 --> 01:31:18,239
read in great detail, and I appreciate

2208
01:31:18,239 --> 01:31:21,120
Mr. Holloway's comments back then, cuz

2209
01:31:21,120 --> 01:31:22,719
when you got down to the end of reading

2210
01:31:22,719 --> 01:31:26,000
it, some 20ome pages, he said, "So,

2211
01:31:26,000 --> 01:31:27,199
we're going to get this committee

2212
01:31:27,199 --> 01:31:30,800
together and look at the whole operation

2213
01:31:30,800 --> 01:31:33,120
inclusive of renovation and what the

2214
01:31:33,120 --> 01:31:35,280
cost might be." It was as if we were

2215
01:31:35,280 --> 01:31:38,960
going to do a study back in 2018. M

2216
01:31:38,960 --> 01:31:41,520
>> now here I am [laughter]

2217
01:31:41,520 --> 01:31:43,360
>> eight years later reading this and it

2218
01:31:43,360 --> 01:31:45,679
looked great except nothing else

2219
01:31:45,679 --> 01:31:47,120
happened.

2220
01:31:47,120 --> 01:31:49,040
>> Nobody knows the reason why and I do

2221
01:31:49,040 --> 01:31:51,199
understand I think there were uh Joe you

2222
01:31:51,199 --> 01:31:52,560
pointed out some other things were going

2223
01:31:52,560 --> 01:31:55,199
on. Mr. Cer was passed away at that

2224
01:31:55,199 --> 01:31:56,639
period of time.

2225
01:31:56,639 --> 01:31:59,840
>> Um but that was an excellent snapshot of

2226
01:31:59,840 --> 01:32:02,639
where the nursing home was then and I'm

2227
01:32:02,639 --> 01:32:04,239
going to say it's probably not a whole

2228
01:32:04,239 --> 01:32:06,320
lot different now. They got occupancy

2229
01:32:06,320 --> 01:32:10,159
problems. They got financial issues. Um,

2230
01:32:10,159 --> 01:32:11,679
you know, things like what's the break

2231
01:32:11,679 --> 01:32:14,239
even occupancy number? How much cost

2232
01:32:14,239 --> 01:32:16,480
cutting do you need if you've got ex uh

2233
01:32:16,480 --> 01:32:18,159
occupancy?

2234
01:32:18,159 --> 01:32:20,400
Needing bathrooms, all those things

2235
01:32:20,400 --> 01:32:22,400
would be something, Josh, to your point,

2236
01:32:22,400 --> 01:32:24,159
that would be rolled up into a strategic

2237
01:32:24,159 --> 01:32:26,480
plan. So, I think that

2238
01:32:26,480 --> 01:32:30,320
>> uh the long term is pick back up where

2239
01:32:30,320 --> 01:32:31,600
we left off

2240
01:32:31,600 --> 01:32:35,040
>> in 2018. Pick right back up,

2241
01:32:35,040 --> 01:32:37,120
>> do do a study. I think the commission is

2242
01:32:37,120 --> 01:32:39,199
a separate purpose. That's to give

2243
01:32:39,199 --> 01:32:41,920
oversight, which is sorely needed. You

2244
01:32:41,920 --> 01:32:43,520
know, I know we've talked about who's

2245
01:32:43,520 --> 01:32:45,520
been visiting the nursing home and who

2246
01:32:45,520 --> 01:32:48,320
has not. I admitted I have not. I did

2247
01:32:48,320 --> 01:32:49,840
visit there when I was looking for a

2248
01:32:49,840 --> 01:32:52,639
place or my myself and my uh siblings

2249
01:32:52,639 --> 01:32:54,080
were looking for a place for my mom. So,

2250
01:32:54,080 --> 01:32:59,520
I do know about it. Um and uh but that doesn't answer any questions.

2251
01:32:59,520 --> 01:33:01,280
You've got to be boots on the ground and

2252
01:33:01,280 --> 01:33:02,400
you've got to be involved with that

2253
01:33:02,400 --> 01:33:04,000
place to know what's going on. And

2254
01:33:04,000 --> 01:33:05,840
that's that's the purpose in my mind for

2255
01:33:05,840 --> 01:33:08,560
the commission. So, um that would be

2256
01:33:08,560 --> 01:33:10,719
what I would suggest. Uh three steps.

2257
01:33:10,719 --> 01:33:13,280
The immediate, we've got to get our

2258
01:33:13,280 --> 01:33:16,239
house in order on the legal entity side

2259
01:33:16,239 --> 01:33:18,800
and to start a strategic plan. Uh

2260
01:33:18,800 --> 01:33:21,280
picking right back up where the 2018 uh

2261
01:33:21,280 --> 01:33:24,560
meeting left off.

2262
01:33:24,560 --> 01:33:25,280
>> Thank you.

2263
01:33:25,280 --> 01:33:26,400
>> Yeah, I think uh we don't want to

2264
01:33:26,400 --> 01:33:28,880
overlook the obvious here. Um, you know,

2265
01:33:28,880 --> 01:33:30,400
with all the spin in the rhetoric that

2266
01:33:30,400 --> 01:33:31,920
we've been exposed to, you know, we've

2267
01:33:31,920 --> 01:33:34,560
had 20 very valuable long-term employees

2268
01:33:34,560 --> 01:33:36,320
now that have left in only a matter of

2269
01:33:36,320 --> 01:33:38,560
weeks, maybe a matter of months. I think

2270
01:33:38,560 --> 01:33:40,560
when you take a look at that, uh, you

2271
01:33:40,560 --> 01:33:42,960
have a you have a problem.

2272
01:33:42,960 --> 01:33:44,800
This is a situation where we've had a

2273
01:33:44,800 --> 01:33:47,600
nursing home that was more than stable

2274
01:33:47,600 --> 01:33:50,560
over the last 20 years. So when you see

2275
01:33:50,560 --> 01:33:52,159
this kind of disruption, when you see

2276
01:33:52,159 --> 01:33:54,480
this kind of mass exodus, I think there

2277
01:33:54,480 --> 01:33:57,360
uh certainly is uh reason to act and to

2278
01:33:57,360 --> 01:33:59,679
act as quickly as possible, especially

2279
01:33:59,679 --> 01:34:00,880
when we're considering the most

2280
01:34:00,880 --> 01:34:03,600
vulnerable citizens in our community who

2281
01:34:03,600 --> 01:34:06,159
are at risk. I have a real problem with

2282
01:34:06,159 --> 01:34:08,960
the fact that uh more so and more

2283
01:34:08,960 --> 01:34:10,639
recently that we're talking about

2284
01:34:10,639 --> 01:34:12,560
management and how we're going to, you

2285
01:34:12,560 --> 01:34:13,920
know, the executive branch is talking

2286
01:34:13,920 --> 01:34:15,280
about how they're going to independently

2287
01:34:15,280 --> 01:34:16,719
address this situation and there really

2288
01:34:16,719 --> 01:34:19,760
isn't a problem. But I do have a a a

2289
01:34:19,760 --> 01:34:21,360
real concern that if there is no

2290
01:34:21,360 --> 01:34:23,360
problem, I would reiterate what other

2291
01:34:23,360 --> 01:34:25,760
people said today. Why do we have

2292
01:34:25,760 --> 01:34:27,120
members of the administration

2293
01:34:27,120 --> 01:34:29,760
administrative staff going in on a

2294
01:34:29,760 --> 01:34:31,760
regular basis?

2295
01:34:31,760 --> 01:34:33,440
And what I really have a problem with

2296
01:34:33,440 --> 01:34:36,239
and it is not rather it is not a rumor.

2297
01:34:36,239 --> 01:34:39,679
It is fact that you have individuals who

2298
01:34:39,679 --> 01:34:42,960
are harassing the employees.

2299
01:34:42,960 --> 01:34:46,719
That is without a a doubt a fact. And

2300
01:34:46,719 --> 01:34:48,480
that is what concerns me more than

2301
01:34:48,480 --> 01:34:50,560
anything. We're already in a very

2302
01:34:50,560 --> 01:34:53,120
unstable environment. And the last thing

2303
01:34:53,120 --> 01:34:55,040
I really want to do is see this become

2304
01:34:55,040 --> 01:34:57,840
even more exacerbated. So if you think

2305
01:34:57,840 --> 01:34:59,360
there's reason for uh if there's not

2306
01:34:59,360 --> 01:35:01,840
reason for uh emergency legislation, I

2307
01:35:01,840 --> 01:35:03,360
would hold you wrong. This needs to be

2308
01:35:03,360 --> 01:35:05,120
done as soon as possible. These are the

2309
01:35:05,120 --> 01:35:08,320
most vulnerable citizens in our county.

2310
01:35:08,320 --> 01:35:10,400
So let's let's move forward if we could

2311
01:35:10,400 --> 01:35:13,040
with the I know we have some amendments

2312
01:35:13,040 --> 01:35:18,950
that are necessary.

2313
01:35:18,960 --> 01:35:21,520
Start. Um Jeff, you have them?

2314
01:35:21,520 --> 01:35:26,629
>> I do. I've got three.

2315
01:35:26,639 --> 01:35:29,679
» Motion number one, addition of of the

2316
01:35:29,679 --> 01:35:32,000
whereas clause. I make a motion to add

2317
01:35:32,000 --> 01:35:34,719
the following as the fourth whereas

2318
01:35:34,719 --> 01:35:38,239
paragraph whereas legislative bill 5 was

2319
01:35:38,239 --> 01:35:41,280
codified as section 74 of the Wakcomo

2320
01:35:41,280 --> 01:35:43,920
County Code. However, after the county

2321
01:35:43,920 --> 01:35:46,560
executive form of government was adopted

2322
01:35:46,560 --> 01:35:49,679
in Wakcomo County, the county council

2323
01:35:49,679 --> 01:35:53,520
enacted bill number 206-11

2324
01:35:53,520 --> 01:35:55,360
which amended the county code by

2325
01:35:55,360 --> 01:35:58,159
deleting section 74.

2326
01:35:58,159 --> 01:36:00,320
And

2327
01:36:00,320 --> 01:36:02,960
so that is the first motion. Yes, these

2328
01:36:02,960 --> 01:36:04,159
are housekeeping measures we're trying

2329
01:36:04,159 --> 01:36:06,239
to address. Is there a second? Second.

2330
01:36:06,239 --> 01:36:08,880
>> Any discussion? All those in favor say

2331
01:36:08,880 --> 01:36:09,920
I. I.

2332
01:36:09,920 --> 01:36:14,390
>> Opposed? Motion's carried.

2333
01:36:14,400 --> 01:36:15,920
Okay.

2334
01:36:15,920 --> 01:36:18,000
Uh motion number two, nursing home

2335
01:36:18,000 --> 01:36:20,880
personnel system. I make a motion to

2336
01:36:20,880 --> 01:36:25,280
amend section 49-3 by striking quote on

2337
01:36:25,280 --> 01:36:29,840
or before November 17th, 2026 end quote

2338
01:36:29,840 --> 01:36:32,480
and replacing it with quote with the

2339
01:36:32,480 --> 01:36:36,239
fiscal year 2028 budget end quote. It's

2340
01:36:36,239 --> 01:36:37,920
a motion.

2341
01:36:37,920 --> 01:36:39,040
>> Second.

2342
01:36:39,040 --> 01:36:41,120
>> Any discussion? All those in favor say

2343
01:36:41,120 --> 01:36:41,840
I. I

2344
01:36:41,840 --> 01:36:42,320
>> I

2345
01:36:42,320 --> 01:36:44,719
>> opposed. Motion is carried. Both

2346
01:36:44,719 --> 01:36:46,639
motions, by the way, were uh carried

2347
01:36:46,639 --> 01:36:49,830
unanimously.

2348
01:36:49,840 --> 01:36:51,920
» Okay. My third motion is appointment of

2349
01:36:51,920 --> 01:36:53,920
commission members.

2350
01:36:53,920 --> 01:36:57,679
I make a motion to amend section 49-5 to

2351
01:36:57,679 --> 01:37:00,880
provide that the Wakcomo Nursing Home

2352
01:37:00,880 --> 01:37:03,280
Commission shall consist of seven voting

2353
01:37:03,280 --> 01:37:05,679
members who are appointed by the county

2354
01:37:05,679 --> 01:37:08,560
executive and confirmed by the W the

2355
01:37:08,560 --> 01:37:11,199
county council of Wakcomo County.

2356
01:37:11,199 --> 01:37:12,159
Motion. Is there a second?

2357
01:37:12,159 --> 01:37:12,639
>> Second.

2358
01:37:12,639 --> 01:37:15,520
>> Discussion. All those in favor say I.

2359
01:37:15,520 --> 01:37:17,520
>> I. Post.

2360
01:37:17,520 --> 01:37:20,320
>> Motion. Motion passes unanimously.

2361
01:37:20,320 --> 01:37:22,080
>> It's my turn.

2362
01:37:22,080 --> 01:37:24,239
>> Okay.

2363
01:37:24,239 --> 01:37:26,320
>> The fourth motion. I move to amend

2364
01:37:26,320 --> 01:37:30,560
section 49-5 by striking quotation one

2365
01:37:30,560 --> 01:37:33,040
of whom shall be the county uh county,

2366
01:37:33,040 --> 01:37:35,280
excuse me, the county health officer and

2367
01:37:35,280 --> 01:37:39,119
his his her designate

2368
01:37:39,119 --> 01:37:43,679
unquote. and replacing it with quote uh one of whom shall be a resident

2369
01:37:43,679 --> 01:37:44,960
family advocate.

2370
01:37:44,960 --> 01:37:46,320
>> The motion's second.

2371
01:37:46,320 --> 01:37:46,800
>> Second.

2372
01:37:46,800 --> 01:37:48,639
>> Any discussion? I know this was a

2373
01:37:48,639 --> 01:37:50,320
current concern of delegate sample

2374
01:37:50,320 --> 01:37:52,960
Hughes and some others in the room.

2375
01:37:52,960 --> 01:37:55,679
>> Motion second. Yes. M just I did get

2376
01:37:55,679 --> 01:37:57,119
folks out a question of whether there

2377
01:37:57,119 --> 01:37:59,440
should be a immediate family. I don't

2378
01:37:59,440 --> 01:38:01,280
know if that really makes a difference

2379
01:38:01,280 --> 01:38:03,520
in there, but at least the intent, you

2380
01:38:03,520 --> 01:38:05,440
know, the I think some people are

2381
01:38:05,440 --> 01:38:06,480
concerned like, oh, there's going to be

2382
01:38:06,480 --> 01:38:08,320
someone who's like, oh, okay, my, you

2383
01:38:08,320 --> 01:38:11,040
know, my third cousin is in there.

2384
01:38:11,040 --> 01:38:13,679
>> Uh, they might.

2385
01:38:13,679 --> 01:38:15,920
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I I I figured I'd bring

2386
01:38:15,920 --> 01:38:17,199
it up regardless. I don't have strong

2387
01:38:17,199 --> 01:38:18,800
feelings on it, but I thought I told him

2388
01:38:18,800 --> 01:38:21,119
I'd bring it to the council.

2389
01:38:21,119 --> 01:38:23,679
>> You want to Are you asking that as as a

2390
01:38:23,679 --> 01:38:24,800
amendment to the motion?

2391
01:38:24,800 --> 01:38:26,480
>> I'll leave it to the uh to the

2392
01:38:26,480 --> 01:38:28,320
individual asking the amendment. Uh, do

2393
01:38:28,320 --> 01:38:30,480
you want to add it an immediate family

2394
01:38:30,480 --> 01:38:31,840
advocate or not? Uh,

2395
01:38:31,840 --> 01:38:33,199
>> I don't have immediate.

2396
01:38:33,199 --> 01:38:34,400
>> Okay. I think let's just

2397
01:38:34,400 --> 01:38:36,000
>> at least defer back to your comment that

2398
01:38:36,000 --> 01:38:37,440
it's obvious.

2399
01:38:37,440 --> 01:38:39,280
>> Good. Okay. [laughter]

2400
01:38:39,280 --> 01:38:40,639
Then that is the intent and I'm go okay

2401
01:38:40,639 --> 01:38:41,119
with it.

2402
01:38:41,119 --> 01:38:42,239
>> Thanks, Josh.

2403
01:38:42,239 --> 01:38:44,800
>> Uh, we have a motion to second. Is it

2404
01:38:44,800 --> 01:38:46,960
correct? Any further discussion? All

2405
01:38:46,960 --> 01:38:49,119
those in favor of the motion say I.

2406
01:38:49,119 --> 01:38:52,480
>> Opposed? Motion's carried unanimously.

2407
01:38:52,480 --> 01:38:54,320
>> Fifth motion. I move to add the

2408
01:38:54,320 --> 01:38:57,360
following to section 49-5 after the list

2409
01:38:57,360 --> 01:38:59,840
of commission members. The nursing home

2410
01:38:59,840 --> 01:39:01,760
administrator shall be an exeicio member

2411
01:39:01,760 --> 01:39:03,280
of the commission without the right to

2412
01:39:03,280 --> 01:39:04,800
vote on commission matters.

2413
01:39:04,800 --> 01:39:06,000
>> It's a motion. Is there a second?

2414
01:39:06,000 --> 01:39:06,480
>> Second.

2415
01:39:06,480 --> 01:39:08,159
>> Discussion.

2416
01:39:08,159 --> 01:39:09,360
>> All those in favor say I.

2417
01:39:09,360 --> 01:39:13,199
>> I. Opposed carried. Motion passes.

2418
01:39:13,199 --> 01:39:16,639
>> The sixth. I move to amend section 495

2419
01:39:16,639 --> 01:39:18,400
to provide that the chairperson and vice

2420
01:39:18,400 --> 01:39:20,480
chairperson shall be elected from among

2421
01:39:20,480 --> 01:39:22,320
the commission members with voting

2422
01:39:22,320 --> 01:39:23,600
rights.

2423
01:39:23,600 --> 01:39:26,159
>> Motion is there second. Discussion.

2424
01:39:26,159 --> 01:39:27,920
>> All those in favor say I.

2425
01:39:27,920 --> 01:39:28,880
>> Opposed.

2426
01:39:28,880 --> 01:39:31,199
>> Motion is carried unanimously. Passes.

2427
01:39:31,199 --> 01:39:33,920
>> John, I have one question about the uh

2428
01:39:33,920 --> 01:39:37,199
motion for um for the resident family.

2429
01:39:37,199 --> 01:39:40,480
if that member was to suddenly pass or

2430
01:39:40,480 --> 01:39:42,560
what have you, um would that be an

2431
01:39:42,560 --> 01:39:45,600
automatic replacement

2432
01:39:45,600 --> 01:39:48,320
for that resident family uh on the uh

2433
01:39:48,320 --> 01:39:51,430
committee?

2434
01:39:51,440 --> 01:39:53,600
» Uh it's a good question. I I would guess

2435
01:39:53,600 --> 01:39:55,760
Mr. Benson, would that be part of what

2436
01:39:55,760 --> 01:39:57,440
the structure would have to be from that

2437
01:39:57,440 --> 01:39:58,080
the commission would have?

2438
01:39:58,080 --> 01:39:59,920
>> They have specified terms. They're there

2439
01:39:59,920 --> 01:40:03,760
for two years. So I

2440
01:40:03,760 --> 01:40:05,440
>> they're they you know, they're there.

2441
01:40:05,440 --> 01:40:07,199
They're familiar with the family, the

2442
01:40:07,199 --> 01:40:09,199
nursing home. They had family members

2443
01:40:09,199 --> 01:40:11,520
there. So, I don't think that they would

2444
01:40:11,520 --> 01:40:16,709
be immediately removed. No.

2445
01:40:16,719 --> 01:40:17,199
» Sorry.

2446
01:40:17,199 --> 01:40:20,320
>> Thank you, Mr. Penc.

2447
01:40:20,320 --> 01:40:21,040
>> Where were we?

2448
01:40:21,040 --> 01:40:21,360
>> Yeah.

2449
01:40:21,360 --> 01:40:21,760
>> Yes.

2450
01:40:21,760 --> 01:40:23,840
>> Seventh and the final. I move to amend

2451
01:40:23,840 --> 01:40:26,719
section 49-6A

2452
01:40:26,719 --> 01:40:28,800
and B to include the resident family

2453
01:40:28,800 --> 01:40:30,560
advocate member.

2454
01:40:30,560 --> 01:40:31,440
>> Motion's there. Second.

2455
01:40:31,440 --> 01:40:31,920
>> Second.

2456
01:40:31,920 --> 01:40:33,360
>> Discussion.

2457
01:40:33,360 --> 01:40:34,480
>> All those in favor say I.

2458
01:40:34,480 --> 01:40:36,080
>> I. I opposed.

2459
01:40:36,080 --> 01:40:38,080
>> Motion passes unanimously. Just for the

2460
01:40:38,080 --> 01:40:39,760
record, all seven motions were passed

2461
01:40:39,760 --> 01:40:43,440
unanimously. Um, one uh question I have

2462
01:40:43,440 --> 01:40:46,639
for the council is Mr. Venosa had made

2463
01:40:46,639 --> 01:40:49,119
the uh recommendation. He had said that

2464
01:40:49,119 --> 01:40:52,560
section 49-2D.

2465
01:40:52,560 --> 01:40:54,159
It now states that the nursing home

2466
01:40:54,159 --> 01:40:56,000
administrator shall fully cooperate and

2467
01:40:56,000 --> 01:40:57,520
provide all reasonable information

2468
01:40:57,520 --> 01:40:59,760
requested by the Wcomo Nursing Home

2469
01:40:59,760 --> 01:41:02,159
Commission. he had suggested there

2470
01:41:02,159 --> 01:41:04,239
should be uh an amendment there that

2471
01:41:04,239 --> 01:41:06,560
would establish some type of a deadline.

2472
01:41:06,560 --> 01:41:08,560
Um any recommendations or thoughts on

2473
01:41:08,560 --> 01:41:13,430
that if at all?

2474
01:41:13,440 --> 01:41:14,400
» Mr. President.

2475
01:41:14,400 --> 01:41:14,800
>> Yes.

2476
01:41:14,800 --> 01:41:16,320
>> So I guess the question there is it also

2477
01:41:16,320 --> 01:41:19,990
is this uh

2478
01:41:20,000 --> 01:41:24,000
are this involves uh the funds of the

2479
01:41:24,000 --> 01:41:26,480
county. Does our internal auditor have

2480
01:41:26,480 --> 01:41:28,560
the ability to access that information

2481
01:41:28,560 --> 01:41:32,880
also? I think this is a situation where

2482
01:41:32,880 --> 01:41:34,960
a circumstance develops and the

2483
01:41:34,960 --> 01:41:36,560
commission goes to the administrator say

2484
01:41:36,560 --> 01:41:38,800
could you tell us why the patient on you

2485
01:41:38,800 --> 01:41:40,719
know in in whatever room this happened

2486
01:41:40,719 --> 01:41:42,719
or that happened that the administrator

2487
01:41:42,719 --> 01:41:44,320
would be responsible to get back to the

2488
01:41:44,320 --> 01:41:45,760
commission would have to answer to the

2489
01:41:45,760 --> 01:41:47,600
commission what Mr. Venosa was

2490
01:41:47,600 --> 01:41:49,600
suggesting was that maybe we should say

2491
01:41:49,600 --> 01:41:51,600
within a period of two weeks or within a

2492
01:41:51,600 --> 01:41:52,960
reasonable amount of time what legal

2493
01:41:52,960 --> 01:41:55,040
jargon Mr. expensive may be most

2494
01:41:55,040 --> 01:41:57,119
suitable for this. Do we make it within

2495
01:41:57,119 --> 01:41:59,199
a twoe period

2496
01:41:59,199 --> 01:42:01,600
or by the next before the next maybe we

2497
01:42:01,600 --> 01:42:04,239
could say before the next uh

2498
01:42:04,239 --> 01:42:06,639
>> meeting?

2499
01:42:06,639 --> 01:42:08,320
I mean you can put whatever you want in

2500
01:42:08,320 --> 01:42:11,360
there. It's a practical problem and I

2501
01:42:11,360 --> 01:42:13,600
mean I guess the question is what

2502
01:42:13,600 --> 01:42:15,600
information are they asking for and is

2503
01:42:15,600 --> 01:42:17,280
something that can be provided within

2504
01:42:17,280 --> 01:42:20,159
two weeks and without knowing I don't

2505
01:42:20,159 --> 01:42:21,760
know how you can answer that question.

2506
01:42:21,760 --> 01:42:23,520
So

2507
01:42:23,520 --> 01:42:25,199
I put in within a reasonable period of

2508
01:42:25,199 --> 01:42:26,880
time the the

2509
01:42:26,880 --> 01:42:28,400
>> that so I'm just looking for that

2510
01:42:28,400 --> 01:42:29,920
legally binding term that would sort of

2511
01:42:29,920 --> 01:42:30,560
expedite

2512
01:42:30,560 --> 01:42:33,760
>> the point I think is that if the

2513
01:42:33,760 --> 01:42:36,560
commission believes that the nursing

2514
01:42:36,560 --> 01:42:38,639
home administrator is not providing the

2515
01:42:38,639 --> 01:42:41,199
information the nursing home commission

2516
01:42:41,199 --> 01:42:43,440
is reporting to the C executive and the

2517
01:42:43,440 --> 01:42:46,320
county council and I assume that the

2518
01:42:46,320 --> 01:42:47,920
commission would say the nursing home

2519
01:42:47,920 --> 01:42:49,520
administrator has been requested to

2520
01:42:49,520 --> 01:42:50,880
provide this information or not

2521
01:42:50,880 --> 01:42:53,520
providing it. We need this information

2522
01:42:53,520 --> 01:42:55,360
and if the nursing home administrator

2523
01:42:55,360 --> 01:42:58,639
doesn't provide it, then the the

2524
01:42:58,639 --> 01:43:01,199
executive andor the nursing county

2525
01:43:01,199 --> 01:43:02,560
commission would have the authority to

2526
01:43:02,560 --> 01:43:05,520
remove the com the administrator. So

2527
01:43:05,520 --> 01:43:08,159
rather than having a time period, it is

2528
01:43:08,159 --> 01:43:11,440
that it can be enforced if it's not

2529
01:43:11,440 --> 01:43:12,320
provided.

2530
01:43:12,320 --> 01:43:14,159
>> So it's just as enforceable as

2531
01:43:14,159 --> 01:43:15,360
open-ended,

2532
01:43:15,360 --> 01:43:16,320
>> I think so.

2533
01:43:16,320 --> 01:43:18,159
>> Okay. All right. Just one or two make

2534
01:43:18,159 --> 01:43:21,199
sure we address that. Any other um

2535
01:43:21,199 --> 01:43:23,280
questions? I have one. Yes, Joe. You go

2536
01:43:23,280 --> 01:43:24,320
ahead, James. You sure?

2537
01:43:24,320 --> 01:43:26,880
>> Yeah. I'd like to make a motion, if it's

2538
01:43:26,880 --> 01:43:31,360
okay, to uh strike the uh where is it?

2539
01:43:31,360 --> 01:43:35,119
Sorry. Or the in 492,

2540
01:43:35,119 --> 01:43:37,840
it says down at the bottom, county

2541
01:43:37,840 --> 01:43:41,280
executive, and or the county council

2542
01:43:41,280 --> 01:43:43,119
with the affirmative vote of five

2543
01:43:43,119 --> 01:43:45,040
members of the county council shall have

2544
01:43:45,040 --> 01:43:46,719
the authority to terminate the nursing

2545
01:43:46,719 --> 01:43:48,880
home administrator. I would like to

2546
01:43:48,880 --> 01:43:51,679
strike the um the county council with

2547
01:43:51,679 --> 01:43:53,679
affirmative vote of five members of the

2548
01:43:53,679 --> 01:43:56,480
county council uh shall have the

2549
01:43:56,480 --> 01:44:00,159
authority to terminate the uh uh nursing

2550
01:44:00,159 --> 01:44:02,320
home administrator. And that's a motion.

2551
01:44:02,320 --> 01:44:03,920
>> There's a second.

2552
01:44:03,920 --> 01:44:04,639
>> Second.

2553
01:44:04,639 --> 01:44:07,360
>> Motion second. Any discussion?

2554
01:44:07,360 --> 01:44:08,960
>> My thought of the whole thing is to make

2555
01:44:08,960 --> 01:44:11,520
it more consistent with the um with the

2556
01:44:11,520 --> 01:44:13,119
county form of government, the the

2557
01:44:13,119 --> 01:44:15,840
county charter. Um everything else we

2558
01:44:15,840 --> 01:44:19,040
have you have to we we can't remove

2559
01:44:19,040 --> 01:44:20,719
directors.

2560
01:44:20,719 --> 01:44:21,440
So

2561
01:44:21,440 --> 01:44:23,199
>> any other discussion?

2562
01:44:23,199 --> 01:44:25,119
>> All those in favor of the amendment say

2563
01:44:25,119 --> 01:44:25,600
I

2564
01:44:25,600 --> 01:44:26,800
>> I

2565
01:44:26,800 --> 01:44:30,229
>> opposed.

2566
01:44:30,239 --> 01:44:33,040
chairs opposed. Uh the amendment

2567
01:44:33,040 --> 01:44:36,080
fails by a vote of five to two. Thank

2568
01:44:36,080 --> 01:44:38,080
you. Uh Mr. I have I have an amendment

2569
01:44:38,080 --> 01:44:40,800
what I mentioned before. Um, and I may

2570
01:44:40,800 --> 01:44:42,000
need some help from Laura on this

2571
01:44:42,000 --> 01:44:44,159
because I didn't have it prepared, but

2572
01:44:44,159 --> 01:44:48,159
um that the um

2573
01:44:48,159 --> 01:44:50,639
commission by majority vote can

2574
01:44:50,639 --> 01:44:52,239
recommend

2575
01:44:52,239 --> 01:44:57,910
this is in uh section 492 can recommend

2576
01:44:57,920 --> 01:45:00,159
that the nursing home administrator can

2577
01:45:00,159 --> 01:45:04,229
be um terminated.

2578
01:45:04,239 --> 01:45:05,760
» Is that is that

2579
01:45:05,760 --> 01:45:06,560
>> that's a motion.

2580
01:45:06,560 --> 01:45:08,159
>> Okay, I'll second that.

2581
01:45:08,159 --> 01:45:09,840
>> Just a second. Any discussion?

2582
01:45:09,840 --> 01:45:12,800
>> My my question is is that in lie of

2583
01:45:12,800 --> 01:45:16,639
having u the council or the executive

2584
01:45:16,639 --> 01:45:18,400
having removal like they would have to

2585
01:45:18,400 --> 01:45:19,840
recommend it for this.

2586
01:45:19,840 --> 01:45:21,360
>> No, they wouldn't have to recommend it.

2587
01:45:21,360 --> 01:45:23,679
But if they recommended it, action would

2588
01:45:23,679 --> 01:45:24,719
have to take place.

2589
01:45:24,719 --> 01:45:26,080
>> Okay. But what if they recommended

2590
01:45:26,080 --> 01:45:27,440
against it?

2591
01:45:27,440 --> 01:45:29,360
>> They wouldn't recommend against it. He's

2592
01:45:29,360 --> 01:45:30,480
already got their job.

2593
01:45:30,480 --> 01:45:32,560
>> I'm just saying like if they recommended

2594
01:45:32,560 --> 01:45:36,080
to not remove the person. Well, does

2595
01:45:36,080 --> 01:45:37,920
that uh if we move in that direction,

2596
01:45:37,920 --> 01:45:39,760
then if I you know, if you were a county

2597
01:45:39,760 --> 01:45:42,159
executive who did not want to face a

2598
01:45:42,159 --> 01:45:44,800
situation where your person might not

2599
01:45:44,800 --> 01:45:46,880
be, you know, might be removed,

2600
01:45:46,880 --> 01:45:49,520
>> wouldn't you just then uh you know, pick

2601
01:45:49,520 --> 01:45:52,080
people who are only going to go along

2602
01:45:52,080 --> 01:45:53,440
with what you want?

2603
01:45:53,440 --> 01:45:55,119
>> So, if we go forward in that direction,

2604
01:45:55,119 --> 01:45:56,320
it could be that we don't get the

2605
01:45:56,320 --> 01:45:58,880
qualified people per se. maybe they meet

2606
01:45:58,880 --> 01:46:00,880
the general intent, but we get people

2607
01:46:00,880 --> 01:46:04,480
who could uh be a little more um

2608
01:46:04,480 --> 01:46:05,520
sympathetic to the

2609
01:46:05,520 --> 01:46:08,320
>> I can go um I can go back on that story.

2610
01:46:08,320 --> 01:46:10,719
Um that was tried at the um liquor

2611
01:46:10,719 --> 01:46:13,360
dispensary a couple times when one of

2612
01:46:13,360 --> 01:46:16,960
our prior um county executives appointed

2613
01:46:16,960 --> 01:46:19,119
people to try to dismantle the liquor

2614
01:46:19,119 --> 01:46:21,760
dispensary. once they were appointed um

2615
01:46:21,760 --> 01:46:23,119
they found out how good the liquor

2616
01:46:23,119 --> 01:46:24,960
dispensary was doing and how much money

2617
01:46:24,960 --> 01:46:26,960
they were contributing to the county and

2618
01:46:26,960 --> 01:46:29,760
they completely changed their mind. So

2619
01:46:29,760 --> 01:46:32,960
um when you put these folks in um in

2620
01:46:32,960 --> 01:46:34,719
that seat

2621
01:46:34,719 --> 01:46:36,960
um that gives them a little more um

2622
01:46:36,960 --> 01:46:39,600
little more teeth if if they just show

2623
01:46:39,600 --> 01:46:41,520
up and they have to go over these books

2624
01:46:41,520 --> 01:46:43,199
and have to go over the operation and

2625
01:46:43,199 --> 01:46:46,960
they have no say why will they be there?

2626
01:46:46,960 --> 01:46:50,159
So that's

2627
01:46:50,159 --> 01:46:51,360
>> I wouldn't be really in favor of

2628
01:46:51,360 --> 01:46:52,880
relinquishing the control that the

2629
01:46:52,880 --> 01:46:54,239
council currently has with this

2630
01:46:54,239 --> 01:46:55,440
legislative bill. I think that would

2631
01:46:55,440 --> 01:46:56,239
hurt it a bit.

2632
01:46:56,239 --> 01:46:57,440
>> Pardon me. I couldn't hear you.

2633
01:46:57,440 --> 01:46:59,199
>> I would have a problem with that because

2634
01:46:59,199 --> 01:47:01,520
the council as an elected body I think

2635
01:47:01,520 --> 01:47:03,360
should have that because we do represent

2636
01:47:03,360 --> 01:47:05,440
the citizens of Wcomako County. The

2637
01:47:05,440 --> 01:47:06,800
commission doesn't necessarily represent

2638
01:47:06,800 --> 01:47:08,480
the citizens of Wcomo County. That's why

2639
01:47:08,480 --> 01:47:10,080
I don't think I could be in favor of

2640
01:47:10,080 --> 01:47:11,440
>> they're not representing the citizens of

2641
01:47:11,440 --> 01:47:13,119
W. They're representing the nursing

2642
01:47:13,119 --> 01:47:14,800
home, John. And they're not having the

2643
01:47:14,800 --> 01:47:16,320
authority to fire. They're just having

2644
01:47:16,320 --> 01:47:19,040
the recommendation the recommendation to

2645
01:47:19,040 --> 01:47:20,800
understand. But I think what what that

2646
01:47:20,800 --> 01:47:22,719
amendment it compromised the council's

2647
01:47:22,719 --> 01:47:24,560
authority over the whole entire

2648
01:47:24,560 --> 01:47:26,239
>> Why would it do that?

2649
01:47:26,239 --> 01:47:27,840
>> Cuz it's the council couldn't

2650
01:47:27,840 --> 01:47:29,199
independently take any measure.

2651
01:47:29,199 --> 01:47:30,480
>> No, I'm not. No, I'm not taking anything

2652
01:47:30,480 --> 01:47:31,840
away from the council. I didn't say

2653
01:47:31,840 --> 01:47:34,000
that. That's not what my amendment was.

2654
01:47:34,000 --> 01:47:36,320
It has to they can recommend it. They

2655
01:47:36,320 --> 01:47:38,000
can make the recommendation and then

2656
01:47:38,000 --> 01:47:39,679
it's up to the council. If they don't

2657
01:47:39,679 --> 01:47:40,960
rank, if they don't make that

2658
01:47:40,960 --> 01:47:43,199
recommendation, can the council make the

2659
01:47:43,199 --> 01:47:45,440
recommend can the council uh take a

2660
01:47:45,440 --> 01:47:46,400
directive into?

2661
01:47:46,400 --> 01:47:47,679
>> Yes, the council can still take a

2662
01:47:47,679 --> 01:47:49,840
direct. Yes. I never said anything about

2663
01:47:49,840 --> 01:47:51,040
taking the authority away from the

2664
01:47:51,040 --> 01:47:52,239
council.

2665
01:47:52,239 --> 01:47:53,840
>> So, they just make a recommendation to

2666
01:47:53,840 --> 01:47:55,679
the county council. Correct. To them.

2667
01:47:55,679 --> 01:47:57,040
>> They can do that anyway in this bill.

2668
01:47:57,040 --> 01:47:57,520
Joe,

2669
01:47:57,520 --> 01:47:58,480
>> that's I was

2670
01:47:58,480 --> 01:48:01,840
>> They can do it anyway.

2671
01:48:01,840 --> 01:48:03,520
>> Any other I was just going to say the

2672
01:48:03,520 --> 01:48:05,440
same thing. uh the commission can make

2673
01:48:05,440 --> 01:48:08,400
any recommendation up and down the pike

2674
01:48:08,400 --> 01:48:11,440
uh inclusive of dismissal of the uh of

2675
01:48:11,440 --> 01:48:12,960
the administrator. So that would just be

2676
01:48:12,960 --> 01:48:14,800
one of many things that they might uh

2677
01:48:14,800 --> 01:48:16,480
come to the council with or to the

2678
01:48:16,480 --> 01:48:17,520
executive with.

2679
01:48:17,520 --> 01:48:19,600
>> Do we spell that out in here? Is that

2680
01:48:19,600 --> 01:48:20,159
already spelled out?

2681
01:48:20,159 --> 01:48:21,360
>> It's not spelled out in there. No.

2682
01:48:21,360 --> 01:48:23,920
>> So what council is trying to say he's

2683
01:48:23,920 --> 01:48:26,080
trying to spell that out as a

2684
01:48:26,080 --> 01:48:29,520
>> a specific uh ability that the

2685
01:48:29,520 --> 01:48:31,600
commission would have. I don't think you

2686
01:48:31,600 --> 01:48:34,320
need I think you need a legislative bill

2687
01:48:34,320 --> 01:48:36,239
that says that a commission can make a

2688
01:48:36,239 --> 01:48:37,280
recommendation. That's what the

2689
01:48:37,280 --> 01:48:38,719
commission is there for.

2690
01:48:38,719 --> 01:48:40,719
>> That's that's why the the the commission

2691
01:48:40,719 --> 01:48:42,080
is even being established.

2692
01:48:42,080 --> 01:48:44,320
>> Okay. Whatever.

2693
01:48:44,320 --> 01:48:45,840
>> There's a motion to second on the floor.

2694
01:48:45,840 --> 01:48:47,199
All those in favor say I.

2695
01:48:47,199 --> 01:48:48,239
>> I. I.

2696
01:48:48,239 --> 01:48:51,910
>> Opposed.

2697
01:48:51,920 --> 01:48:52,960
» I don't remember what we're voting on,

2698
01:48:52,960 --> 01:48:55,520
but yeah. Okay. [laughter]

2699
01:48:55,520 --> 01:48:57,679
>> Yeah. J organization. I'll go opposed, I

2700
01:48:57,679 --> 01:48:58,800
guess. I don't know. It should be a

2701
01:48:58,800 --> 01:49:01,199
board. It should be an actual board.

2702
01:49:01,199 --> 01:49:03,119
>> They have no authority. You're putting a

2703
01:49:03,119 --> 01:49:04,800
board in there with no authority to do

2704
01:49:04,800 --> 01:49:07,040
anything or say anything. So, you're

2705
01:49:07,040 --> 01:49:10,080
wasting their time and everybody else's.

2706
01:49:10,080 --> 01:49:11,440
>> All right. Thank you, Joe. The amendment

2707
01:49:11,440 --> 01:49:13,280
fails by a vote, I believe, of five to

2708
01:49:13,280 --> 01:49:14,159
two. Josh.

2709
01:49:14,159 --> 01:49:14,560
>> Yeah.

2710
01:49:14,560 --> 01:49:16,719
>> Okay. All right. Thank you, Joe. Any

2711
01:49:16,719 --> 01:49:18,480
other um comments, questions,

2712
01:49:18,480 --> 01:49:20,480
discussions?

2713
01:49:20,480 --> 01:49:21,199
>> Yes, Josh.

2714
01:49:21,199 --> 01:49:23,920
>> I just want to say once again, this is

2715
01:49:23,920 --> 01:49:26,480
only a first step forward.

2716
01:49:26,480 --> 01:49:29,520
We need to get to that point where if

2717
01:49:29,520 --> 01:49:31,520
there's a if the county owns the

2718
01:49:31,520 --> 01:49:33,440
nonprofit, if that's what's happening,

2719
01:49:33,440 --> 01:49:35,119
then that does the nonprofit have a

2720
01:49:35,119 --> 01:49:36,719
board [snorts] who puts together the

2721
01:49:36,719 --> 01:49:39,119
strategic plan like that. None of this

2722
01:49:39,119 --> 01:49:40,960
gets us to that point where we know,

2723
01:49:40,960 --> 01:49:43,119
okay, here's our here's our path

2724
01:49:43,119 --> 01:49:45,119
forward. Here's what we need both on the

2725
01:49:45,119 --> 01:49:47,600
capital side as well as on the operating

2726
01:49:47,600 --> 01:49:52,719
side. Um, so this and this only this is only a bridge or a first step

2727
01:49:52,719 --> 01:49:54,400
into into something else, but this is

2728
01:49:54,400 --> 01:49:55,199
something that's going to have to

2729
01:49:55,199 --> 01:49:56,800
continue to be looked at and thought

2730
01:49:56,800 --> 01:49:58,159
through. And I think there should be a

2731
01:49:58,159 --> 01:50:01,600
broader um effort and I don't want to

2732
01:50:01,600 --> 01:50:02,880
say a commission because usually that's

2733
01:50:02,880 --> 01:50:04,320
what you put together. Uh, but there

2734
01:50:04,320 --> 01:50:06,080
needs to be a broader effort to try to

2735
01:50:06,080 --> 01:50:07,920
figure out, okay, how the heck do we

2736
01:50:07,920 --> 01:50:10,239
design something that makes sense for

2737
01:50:10,239 --> 01:50:12,000
the long term and that gets us to the

2738
01:50:12,000 --> 01:50:14,800
next 50 years or more? And um we're not

2739
01:50:14,800 --> 01:50:16,719
doing that in this in this legislation,

2740
01:50:16,719 --> 01:50:18,639
but this is just the step forward.

2741
01:50:18,639 --> 01:50:20,320
>> Yeah. Just acknowledging that.

2742
01:50:20,320 --> 01:50:21,920
>> Yeah.

2743
01:50:21,920 --> 01:50:23,760
>> So, this meeting lasted about a half

2744
01:50:23,760 --> 01:50:26,080
hour longer than the one in 2018, and

2745
01:50:26,080 --> 01:50:28,000
it'll probably be the same results.

2746
01:50:28,000 --> 01:50:30,239
Nothing. I don't agree. I don't agree at

2747
01:50:30,239 --> 01:50:32,606
all, Joe. But

2748
01:50:32,606 --> 01:50:33,280
[clears throat] that is your

2749
01:50:33,280 --> 01:50:35,760
prerogative. Um

2750
01:50:35,760 --> 01:50:38,800
so, all those in favor of legislative

2751
01:50:38,800 --> 01:50:40,719
bill 2026-11

2752
01:50:40,719 --> 01:50:42,880
as amended, we'll say I. If you're in

2753
01:50:42,880 --> 01:50:45,760
favor, nay. If you are opposed, uh, it

2754
01:50:45,760 --> 01:50:47,920
will be a roll call vote. Uh, Councilman

2755
01:50:47,920 --> 01:50:49,199
Shields,

2756
01:50:49,199 --> 01:50:50,000
>> I.

2757
01:50:50,000 --> 01:50:51,040
>> Councilman Nettis,

2758
01:50:51,040 --> 01:50:51,520
>> I.

2759
01:50:51,520 --> 01:50:52,639
>> Vice President Merritt,

2760
01:50:52,639 --> 01:50:53,119
>> I.

2761
01:50:53,119 --> 01:50:54,239
>> Councilman Holloway,

2762
01:50:54,239 --> 01:50:54,880
>> I.

2763
01:50:54,880 --> 01:50:56,000
>> Councilman Hastings,

2764
01:50:56,000 --> 01:50:56,560
>> I.

2765
01:50:56,560 --> 01:50:57,440
>> Councilman W.

2766
01:50:57,440 --> 01:50:58,400
>> Uh, no.

2767
01:50:58,400 --> 01:51:01,119
>> No. Chair votes I. Legislative bill

2768
01:51:01,119 --> 01:51:02,719
2026-11

2769
01:51:02,719 --> 01:51:07,040
passes as amended by a vote of 6 to one.

2770
01:51:07,040 --> 01:51:09,360
Thank you all very much for uh all your

2771
01:51:09,360 --> 01:51:12,000
work. Thank you, Mr. Laken and thank you

2772
01:51:12,000 --> 01:51:15,119
uh Mr. Wilbur,

2773
01:51:15,119 --> 01:51:16,960
Mrs. Hurley.

2774
01:51:16,960 --> 01:51:19,199
>> Okay. Next on the agenda this morning is

2775
01:51:19,199 --> 01:51:23,040
resolution number 138-2026.

2776
01:51:23,040 --> 01:51:25,119
This is authorizing Clark Mosquito

2777
01:51:25,119 --> 01:51:27,440
Control Products, Inc. as a sole source

2778
01:51:27,440 --> 01:51:30,480
vendor for fiscal year 2027 for the

2779
01:51:30,480 --> 01:51:33,520
Clark Cougar ulv sprayer to be utilized

2780
01:51:33,520 --> 01:51:36,639
by Wakamico County Public Works. Um,

2781
01:51:36,639 --> 01:51:38,400
you'll notice behind the resolution

2782
01:51:38,400 --> 01:51:41,760
number is SM. That indicates that in

2783
01:51:41,760 --> 01:51:43,760
order for this resolution to pass, it

2784
01:51:43,760 --> 01:51:46,000
requires a super majority vote, meaning

2785
01:51:46,000 --> 01:51:48,159
five council members must vote in favor

2786
01:51:48,159 --> 01:51:50,560
of it for it to pass. And we have Amy

2787
01:51:50,560 --> 01:51:52,719
Kernodal here, our purchasing agent, and

2788
01:51:52,719 --> 01:51:55,920
Mr. Conrad Jones. Um, if you have any

2789
01:51:55,920 --> 01:51:56,639
questions.

2790
01:51:56,639 --> 01:51:57,679
>> A motion from council to approve

2791
01:51:57,679 --> 01:52:00,719
resolution 138, 2022. The move.

2792
01:52:00,719 --> 01:52:01,760
>> Second.

2793
01:52:01,760 --> 01:52:03,360
>> Any discussion?

2794
01:52:03,360 --> 01:52:04,719
>> All those in favor say I.

2795
01:52:04,719 --> 01:52:07,119
>> I. I opposed. Motion is carried.

2796
01:52:07,119 --> 01:52:09,440
Resolution passes unanimously.

2797
01:52:09,440 --> 01:52:11,199
>> Okay. Next is resolution number

2798
01:52:11,199 --> 01:52:13,119
139-2026.

2799
01:52:13,119 --> 01:52:15,679
This is to amend the fiscal year 2027

2800
01:52:15,679 --> 01:52:18,159
budget to donate $10,000 to the

2801
01:52:18,159 --> 01:52:20,159
Christmas Island project at the city

2802
01:52:20,159 --> 01:52:22,719
park. And I believe we have Pam Olen

2803
01:52:22,719 --> 01:52:24,719
here, our director of finance.

2804
01:52:24,719 --> 01:52:26,080
>> Pain a motion from council to approve

2805
01:52:26,080 --> 01:52:29,440
resolution number 139 2026. So move.

2806
01:52:29,440 --> 01:52:30,560
>> Second. Second.

2807
01:52:30,560 --> 01:52:35,760
>> Any discussion? Yep. I do. Joe is Miss

2808
01:52:35,760 --> 01:52:36,719
Olen's here.

2809
01:52:36,719 --> 01:52:38,560
>> I don't see her.

2810
01:52:38,560 --> 01:52:40,960
>> Maybe Mr. Leaken can address your

2811
01:52:40,960 --> 01:52:48,229
questions.

2812
01:52:48,239 --> 01:52:50,000
» Here she comes. Here she comes.

2813
01:52:50,000 --> 01:52:52,123
>> There she comes. Here she comes.

2814
01:52:52,123 --> 01:52:52,719
[laughter]

2815
01:52:52,719 --> 01:52:53,679
>> Thought you were getting away.

2816
01:52:53,679 --> 01:52:59,360
>> The delay was quicker than thought.

2817
01:52:59,360 --> 01:53:01,440
>> Pamelan, finance director. Sorry to put

2818
01:53:01,440 --> 01:53:03,199
you on the spot here, but um I asked

2819
01:53:03,199 --> 01:53:04,960
these questions last week and I didn't

2820
01:53:04,960 --> 01:53:08,239
get the satisfa satisfactory answers. Is

2821
01:53:08,239 --> 01:53:10,239
this um

2822
01:53:10,239 --> 01:53:12,480
it says a Christmas Island project in

2823
01:53:12,480 --> 01:53:15,840
the um what what does that is that on

2824
01:53:15,840 --> 01:53:19,599
you know? My understanding is that this

2825
01:53:19,599 --> 01:53:22,719
is in city park that um greater

2826
01:53:22,719 --> 01:53:24,639
Salisbury committee is working with a

2827
01:53:24,639 --> 01:53:27,840
company to uh kind of bring a lake

2828
01:53:27,840 --> 01:53:31,040
display to I think what is called picnic

2829
01:53:31,040 --> 01:53:32,400
island.

2830
01:53:32,400 --> 01:53:35,840
>> If I could briefly uh

2831
01:53:35,840 --> 01:53:38,159
Mike Mr. Mike Dunn he's the executive

2832
01:53:38,159 --> 01:53:39,520
director of the greater Salsbury

2833
01:53:39,520 --> 01:53:40,400
committee. Would you like to come

2834
01:53:40,400 --> 01:53:43,868
forward? So, I was asked to come up

2835
01:53:43,868 --> 01:53:45,199
[clears throat] with the amendment as to

2836
01:53:45,199 --> 01:53:47,920
how to fund it. I was not asked to

2837
01:53:47,920 --> 01:53:50,639
explain what it is. So, I will turn it

2838
01:53:50,639 --> 01:53:52,560
over to [laughter]

2839
01:53:52,560 --> 01:53:54,639
>> Mike Dunn as to what it is.

2840
01:53:54,639 --> 01:53:55,520
>> Thanks for being here today,

2841
01:53:55,520 --> 01:53:56,880
>> Mr. President. It's my pleasure to be

2842
01:53:56,880 --> 01:53:58,480
here. I'm Mike Dunn, president and CEO

2843
01:53:58,480 --> 01:54:00,000
of the Greater Salsbury Committee. Would

2844
01:54:00,000 --> 01:54:01,599
certainly be glad to answer any

2845
01:54:01,599 --> 01:54:03,440
questions you want me to try to take

2846
01:54:03,440 --> 01:54:04,719
that question.

2847
01:54:04,719 --> 01:54:06,960
>> It was originally going to be in Picnic

2848
01:54:06,960 --> 01:54:10,000
Island. Um the city of Salsbury is doing

2849
01:54:10,000 --> 01:54:13,679
a city park master plan and it's going

2850
01:54:13,679 --> 01:54:16,560
from Snow Hill Road starting there and

2851
01:54:16,560 --> 01:54:19,520
ending up on Picnic Island. So now we

2852
01:54:19,520 --> 01:54:21,760
have moved the design and everything

2853
01:54:21,760 --> 01:54:24,880
that Pam represented um to the area

2854
01:54:24,880 --> 01:54:29,040
around the band stand, the new bridge

2855
01:54:29,040 --> 01:54:31,360
and the the footpath that goes down

2856
01:54:31,360 --> 01:54:33,679
towards Snow Hill Road. Then you'll come

2857
01:54:33,679 --> 01:54:36,159
across that Snow Hill Road bridge and

2858
01:54:36,159 --> 01:54:39,119
circle back to the other bridge. So it

2859
01:54:39,119 --> 01:54:40,960
will be that little circle area. That's

2860
01:54:40,960 --> 01:54:42,880
where [snorts] all of this will happen.

2861
01:54:42,880 --> 01:54:45,440
>> The new the um the walk brid the walkway

2862
01:54:45,440 --> 01:54:47,280
bridge isn't repaired yet. Will that be

2863
01:54:47,280 --> 01:54:48,080
done in time?

2864
01:54:48,080 --> 01:54:50,560
>> It Yes, it's being repaired as we speak.

2865
01:54:50,560 --> 01:54:52,000
>> What's the total cost of all this?

2866
01:54:52,000 --> 01:54:54,480
>> Yeah. The invoice to Moscow Design

2867
01:54:54,480 --> 01:54:57,199
Company. Um they they created Winter

2868
01:54:57,199 --> 01:54:59,520
Festive Lights in Ocean City. It's

2869
01:54:59,520 --> 01:55:02,000
$211,000.

2870
01:55:02,000 --> 01:55:03,520
>> Okay. And where's most of the money

2871
01:55:03,520 --> 01:55:04,080
coming from?

2872
01:55:04,080 --> 01:55:05,840
>> Um, Greater Salisbury Committee is

2873
01:55:05,840 --> 01:55:07,199
raising it.

2874
01:55:07,199 --> 01:55:08,480
>> The Greater Salsbury Committee.

2875
01:55:08,480 --> 01:55:09,040
>> Yes, sir.

2876
01:55:09,040 --> 01:55:10,159
>> 211,000.

2877
01:55:10,159 --> 01:55:10,719
>> Yes, sir.

2878
01:55:10,719 --> 01:55:11,599
>> They're raising it.

2879
01:55:11,599 --> 01:55:12,080
>> Raising it.

2880
01:55:12,080 --> 01:55:12,719
>> They're fundraising.

2881
01:55:12,719 --> 01:55:14,159
>> Sorry. Fundraising.

2882
01:55:14,159 --> 01:55:15,920
>> Don donors and sponsors.

2883
01:55:15,920 --> 01:55:18,080
>> Uh-huh. Donors and sponsors. Um,

2884
01:55:18,080 --> 01:55:20,239
>> and then we will be, just so everybody

2885
01:55:20,239 --> 01:55:23,599
knows, we will then be turning over,

2886
01:55:23,599 --> 01:55:26,880
we're doing the purchase and then we're

2887
01:55:26,880 --> 01:55:29,679
through anou we will be um dedicating

2888
01:55:29,679 --> 01:55:31,840
and turning all those lights over to the

2889
01:55:31,840 --> 01:55:35,840
city of Salsbury. They will um uh store

2890
01:55:35,840 --> 01:55:37,599
them and then put them up each and every

2891
01:55:37,599 --> 01:55:38,880
year.

2892
01:55:38,880 --> 01:55:44,229
>> Um, what was the um

2893
01:55:44,239 --> 01:55:47,679
inind donation from the county? Uh, I

2894
01:55:47,679 --> 01:55:51,040
believe Recken Parks is helping with um

2895
01:55:51,040 --> 01:55:52,320
some of the setup.

2896
01:55:52,320 --> 01:55:54,719
>> Yeah. And some of the programming. So on

2897
01:55:54,719 --> 01:55:58,000
the this opens on the Saturday after

2898
01:55:58,000 --> 01:55:59,840
Thanksgiving and it will be open every

2899
01:55:59,840 --> 01:56:02,239
single night. And on the weekends

2900
01:56:02,239 --> 01:56:04,480
between Thanksgiving and Christmas,

2901
01:56:04,480 --> 01:56:06,000
we're trying to create a little holiday

2902
01:56:06,000 --> 01:56:09,520
magic in the city park. And Wamico

2903
01:56:09,520 --> 01:56:11,920
Reckon Parks is helping us with the

2904
01:56:11,920 --> 01:56:14,320
programming that will happen on those

2905
01:56:14,320 --> 01:56:16,639
weekends. So on the Friday and Saturday

2906
01:56:16,639 --> 01:56:19,105
night between 5:00 and 7:00 there

2907
01:56:19,105 --> 01:56:21,440
[snorts] will be a stage wreck and parks

2908
01:56:21,440 --> 01:56:23,280
we're going to use their stage. There

2909
01:56:23,280 --> 01:56:25,040
will be snowball fights, there will be a

2910
01:56:25,040 --> 01:56:28,159
train for kids, there will be Santa um

2911
01:56:28,159 --> 01:56:30,719
food trucks and things like that. So the

2912
01:56:30,719 --> 01:56:33,199
inind from Wycom reckoning parks comes

2913
01:56:33,199 --> 01:56:35,199
in that programming aspect of things.

2914
01:56:35,199 --> 01:56:37,920
>> What's the value of that?

2915
01:56:37,920 --> 01:56:40,400
>> Until I see the programming and how many

2916
01:56:40,400 --> 01:56:42,719
people I can't give you that answer. So,

2917
01:56:42,719 --> 01:56:44,880
like until an actual schedule is set up

2918
01:56:44,880 --> 01:56:47,840
and how many people we're bringing in,

2919
01:56:47,840 --> 01:56:49,040
I I can't answer that.

2920
01:56:49,040 --> 01:56:50,560
>> I can attempt to answer that for you,

2921
01:56:50,560 --> 01:56:53,760
Mr. Holloway. Um, that'll be 2 hours per

2922
01:56:53,760 --> 01:56:55,280
night that they will be helping the

2923
01:56:55,280 --> 01:56:58,560
program. So, that's seven um nights of

2924
01:56:58,560 --> 01:57:02,800
two hours. That's 14 hours of inind

2925
01:57:02,800 --> 01:57:05,360
um on Recken Park's part during the

2926
01:57:05,360 --> 01:57:06,960
event itself. Obviously, there's some

2927
01:57:06,960 --> 01:57:08,159
planning and things like that in

2928
01:57:08,159 --> 01:57:08,719
advance.

2929
01:57:08,719 --> 01:57:10,719
>> How about the initial setup? How much

2930
01:57:10,719 --> 01:57:13,199
time will that be? Yeah, the the Moscow

2931
01:57:13,199 --> 01:57:15,440
design company from North Carolina. Um

2932
01:57:15,440 --> 01:57:18,800
they will be bringing one person up and

2933
01:57:18,800 --> 01:57:21,119
we've met with Wakamako Reck and Parks.

2934
01:57:21,119 --> 01:57:23,520
We may be using um [clears throat]

2935
01:57:23,520 --> 01:57:26,239
inmate labor that was used also um

2936
01:57:26,239 --> 01:57:28,400
during the recent setup at Wakcomo

2937
01:57:28,400 --> 01:57:30,480
County Fair and then the city of

2938
01:57:30,480 --> 01:57:34,320
Salsbury will be bringing some of their

2939
01:57:34,320 --> 01:57:37,119
um employees to learn the setup and then

2940
01:57:37,119 --> 01:57:41,119
to learn how to break it down. But the company out of North Carolina that

2941
01:57:41,119 --> 01:57:43,280
is designing all of this, they will be

2942
01:57:43,280 --> 01:57:45,679
up here to supervise, if you will, and

2943
01:57:45,679 --> 01:57:48,000
to show how the installation occurs.

2944
01:57:48,000 --> 01:57:49,840
>> Been to the one in Ocean City. really

2945
01:57:49,840 --> 01:57:51,599
nice and uh I think it's great that

2946
01:57:51,599 --> 01:57:53,280
we're having this in Salsbury, but I

2947
01:57:53,280 --> 01:57:55,520
really have a heartburn about using

2948
01:57:55,520 --> 01:57:57,920
taxpayers dollars, especially

2949
01:57:57,920 --> 01:58:00,080
>> if it's going to be Salsbury's event and

2950
01:58:00,080 --> 01:58:02,000
Salsbury is going to control the event

2951
01:58:02,000 --> 01:58:04,560
after it's all set up and all the

2952
01:58:04,560 --> 01:58:07,920
product goes to Salsbury and um you know

2953
01:58:07,920 --> 01:58:10,480
and um

2954
01:58:10,480 --> 01:58:12,960
in the past uh we turned down money

2955
01:58:12,960 --> 01:58:16,560
going to the folk festival and we shore

2956
01:58:16,560 --> 01:58:19,119
up you know we turned down uh money for

2957
01:58:19,119 --> 01:58:22,639
them when they wanted to u tipping fees

2958
01:58:22,639 --> 01:58:25,840
um excused for some excuse me tipping

2959
01:58:25,840 --> 01:58:29,760
fees excused um

2960
01:58:29,760 --> 01:58:32,560
I I guess I'm wondering why

2961
01:58:32,560 --> 01:58:34,159
Greater Salisbury committee and raising

2962
01:58:34,159 --> 01:58:35,360
all the money why'd you come to the

2963
01:58:35,360 --> 01:58:36,880
county for $10,000

2964
01:58:36,880 --> 01:58:38,560
>> well uh because the Greater Salisbury

2965
01:58:38,560 --> 01:58:41,119
committee exists in Salsbury to do good

2966
01:58:41,119 --> 01:58:43,599
in and around Salsbury and [snorts] last

2967
01:58:43,599 --> 01:58:45,599
time I checked Salsbury is in Wcomako

2968
01:58:45,599 --> 01:58:48,000
County so that's why we're here

2969
01:58:48,000 --> 01:58:50,000
>> Dave uh Just to piggy back on that

2970
01:58:50,000 --> 01:58:52,480
thought, within parks and wrecks, they

2971
01:58:52,480 --> 01:58:54,719
tourism. Is this considered to be a

2972
01:58:54,719 --> 01:58:57,040
tourism uh

2973
01:58:57,040 --> 01:58:58,719
>> and and in that same regard, are we

2974
01:58:58,719 --> 01:59:00,960
trying to steer some of the throngs that

2975
01:59:00,960 --> 01:59:02,320
go over to Ocean City to Winter

2976
01:59:02,320 --> 01:59:04,800
Wonderland, Wcomo County, and to eat in

2977
01:59:04,800 --> 01:59:07,599
our restaurants and etc. Absolutely.

2978
01:59:07,599 --> 01:59:08,880
That was a softball question.

2979
01:59:08,880 --> 01:59:11,199
>> No, thank you, Mr. Andis. that that's

2980
01:59:11,199 --> 01:59:13,760
look why why are we doing this to be

2981
01:59:13,760 --> 01:59:16,960
honest um this recent conversation being

2982
01:59:16,960 --> 01:59:18,960
example and I applaud every member of

2983
01:59:18,960 --> 01:59:20,719
the council for the last hour and a half

2984
01:59:20,719 --> 01:59:22,960
and how you all conducted yourself and

2985
01:59:22,960 --> 01:59:24,960
everybody in here things have been a

2986
01:59:24,960 --> 01:59:26,719
little deep around here a little heavy

2987
01:59:26,719 --> 01:59:29,679
and so we need to create and bring some

2988
01:59:29,679 --> 01:59:33,040
holiday magic into Wcomamako County and

2989
01:59:33,040 --> 01:59:35,280
the Salsbury city park is right in the

2990
01:59:35,280 --> 01:59:38,320
heart of Wcomamako County uh Mr. Dennis,

2991
01:59:38,320 --> 01:59:41,599
to your point, uh, this is I I want to

2992
01:59:41,599 --> 01:59:44,560
point out also this is a free event. If

2993
01:59:44,560 --> 01:59:46,800
you get in the car to go to Ocean City

2994
01:59:46,800 --> 01:59:48,159
or you get in the car to go to

2995
01:59:48,159 --> 01:59:50,800
Shelville, you're paying money. You're

2996
01:59:50,800 --> 01:59:53,440
spending a night out in Ocean City or in

2997
01:59:53,440 --> 01:59:56,560
Lewis. And we believe conservatively

2998
01:59:56,560 --> 01:59:58,800
there will be 5,000 people who come and

2999
01:59:58,800 --> 02:00:01,440
visit on those seven nights. So you're

3000
02:00:01,440 --> 02:00:03,599
talking families getting in a car,

3001
02:00:03,599 --> 02:00:05,280
making [laughter] a a shopping night out

3002
02:00:05,280 --> 02:00:07,119
of it, perhaps a restaurant night out of

3003
02:00:07,119 --> 02:00:10,320
it, increasing economic activity in

3004
02:00:10,320 --> 02:00:12,800
Wcomamako County as a and we're not

3005
02:00:12,800 --> 02:00:14,639
competing with Ocean City to be clear.

3006
02:00:14,639 --> 02:00:17,440
What they do is fabulous, but we're

3007
02:00:17,440 --> 02:00:19,520
trying to create something that is free

3008
02:00:19,520 --> 02:00:21,360
for the people of Wcomamako County to

3009
02:00:21,360 --> 02:00:24,320
enjoy holiday magic here as opposed to

3010
02:00:24,320 --> 02:00:25,520
elsewhere.

3011
02:00:25,520 --> 02:00:27,679
>> With me if we compete with Ocean City,

3012
02:00:27,679 --> 02:00:29,280
>> noted, [laughter] but a second. Was

3013
02:00:29,280 --> 02:00:30,719
there any thoughts of taking this money

3014
02:00:30,719 --> 02:00:32,400
from um

3015
02:00:32,400 --> 02:00:35,599
>> um tourism the tourism did you contact?

3016
02:00:35,599 --> 02:00:38,960
>> So uh again the decision um to do the

3017
02:00:38,960 --> 02:00:41,679
$10,000 this way was because we were

3018
02:00:41,679 --> 02:00:43,760
already taking from the rec park parks

3019
02:00:43,760 --> 02:00:47,520
and tourism budget by um the staff time

3020
02:00:47,520 --> 02:00:50,400
that is going to be donated. So they are

3021
02:00:50,400 --> 02:00:54,880
already making a donation of dollars um

3022
02:00:54,880 --> 02:00:56,400
coming out of a budget that we're not

3023
02:00:56,400 --> 02:00:58,320
asking for a budget amendment for. We're

3024
02:00:58,320 --> 02:00:59,920
not asking for any other dollars from

3025
02:00:59,920 --> 02:01:04,239
it. We are asking for um the straight

3026
02:01:04,239 --> 02:01:06,320
dollars to come out of the contingency

3027
02:01:06,320 --> 02:01:09,280
general fund versus coming out of the

3028
02:01:09,280 --> 02:01:11,599
department that is already um providing

3029
02:01:11,599 --> 02:01:16,480
a dollar a a dollar donation in in kind

3030
02:01:16,480 --> 02:01:17,040
labor.

3031
02:01:17,040 --> 02:01:18,880
>> We don't know how much that is.

3032
02:01:18,880 --> 02:01:22,320
>> No, but again it's not going to be one

3033
02:01:22,320 --> 02:01:25,119
person for 14 hours. I mean it is it is

3034
02:01:25,119 --> 02:01:27,599
going to be it is going to take a

3035
02:01:27,599 --> 02:01:32,000
part-time staff to do this and um it is

3036
02:01:32,000 --> 02:01:34,000
going to take time to program. It is

3037
02:01:34,000 --> 02:01:36,800
going to take time to um create the

3038
02:01:36,800 --> 02:01:39,360
programs that are happening and it is

3039
02:01:39,360 --> 02:01:41,599
not like we're going to just say oh it's

3040
02:01:41,599 --> 02:01:43,679
open from 5 to 7 and nobody is going to

3041
02:01:43,679 --> 02:01:47,920
be there to help run that. So again, um,

3042
02:01:47,920 --> 02:01:50,400
until everything is written down and we

3043
02:01:50,400 --> 02:01:53,440
know we're having seven people, 14

3044
02:01:53,440 --> 02:01:56,000
people, 20 people, I I can't answer

3045
02:01:56,000 --> 02:01:58,239
those questions, but I can tell you that

3046
02:01:58,239 --> 02:02:01,360
we are already providing um through that

3047
02:02:01,360 --> 02:02:04,159
department a donation and as such we

3048
02:02:04,159 --> 02:02:06,320
felt that the contingency was the best

3049
02:02:06,320 --> 02:02:08,639
place and community promotions was the

3050
02:02:08,639 --> 02:02:12,400
best place to uh put the dollar amount.

3051
02:02:12,400 --> 02:02:14,400
>> Jeff, do you have a question? Actually,

3052
02:02:14,400 --> 02:02:16,880
you've already answered it. Um,

3053
02:02:16,880 --> 02:02:18,400
>> I was going to ask about the community

3054
02:02:18,400 --> 02:02:20,400
impact. You say about 5,000 people.

3055
02:02:20,400 --> 02:02:22,800
>> Well, that's Yeah, on a conservative

3056
02:02:22,800 --> 02:02:24,960
basis. And remember, that's just on

3057
02:02:24,960 --> 02:02:26,880
those weekend nights. These lights will

3058
02:02:26,880 --> 02:02:29,760
be up, uh, from the Saturday night, uh,

3059
02:02:29,760 --> 02:02:31,679
after Thanksgiving through New Year's.

3060
02:02:31,679 --> 02:02:34,320
And so, uh, these are interactive. So, I

3061
02:02:34,320 --> 02:02:36,719
can see hundreds upon hundreds of people

3062
02:02:36,719 --> 02:02:39,280
going down there for free to get photo

3063
02:02:39,280 --> 02:02:41,440
opportunities, selfie opportunities with

3064
02:02:41,440 --> 02:02:44,320
their family. Um, one of the things that

3065
02:02:44,320 --> 02:02:47,280
in kind that Wcomo Reck and Parks, we

3066
02:02:47,280 --> 02:02:49,040
just had the Greater Salsbury Committee,

3067
02:02:49,040 --> 02:02:51,199
we had our uh, general membership

3068
02:02:51,199 --> 02:02:53,280
meeting at the civic center yesterday so

3069
02:02:53,280 --> 02:02:55,599
that we could see the renovations and we

3070
02:02:55,599 --> 02:02:59,280
enjoyed um, the new space and among the

3071
02:02:59,280 --> 02:03:00,880
things that Wreck and Parks will be

3072
02:03:00,880 --> 02:03:04,159
doing, they have a 42,000 person email

3073
02:03:04,159 --> 02:03:06,480
list and so they'll be using the

3074
02:03:06,480 --> 02:03:08,320
billboard, they'll be promoting it on

3075
02:03:08,320 --> 02:03:10,560
all their social media as will the city

3076
02:03:10,560 --> 02:03:13,199
of Salsbury. So again, we're we're

3077
02:03:13,199 --> 02:03:15,520
optimistic that this is going to be this

3078
02:03:15,520 --> 02:03:17,520
is actually a good and easy thing for

3079
02:03:17,520 --> 02:03:19,040
the community and we're looking forward

3080
02:03:19,040 --> 02:03:21,280
to bringing it.

3081
02:03:21,280 --> 02:03:23,760
>> Um let's take this to a vote. All those

3082
02:03:23,760 --> 02:03:27,199
in favor of resolution 139, 2022, say I

3083
02:03:27,199 --> 02:03:29,599
>> opposed. Motion is carried. Resolution

3084
02:03:29,599 --> 02:03:30,800
passes unanimously.

3085
02:03:30,800 --> 02:03:33,280
>> Thank you, Mr. Thank you, council.

3086
02:03:33,280 --> 02:03:36,159
>> Next is a submission of Judy Coun as or

3087
02:03:36,159 --> 02:03:38,800
Judy Couns as director of public works

3088
02:03:38,800 --> 02:03:51,189
by Mr. Steven Leak.

3089
02:03:51,199 --> 02:03:53,360
Good afternoon, Mr. Leak. It is

3090
02:03:53,360 --> 02:03:55,840
afternoon. Good afternoon.

3091
02:03:55,840 --> 02:03:58,400
Um, Steve Laken, assistant director of

3092
02:03:58,400 --> 02:04:01,040
administration. I'm here today uh to

3093
02:04:01,040 --> 02:04:02,800
present to you the county executive

3094
02:04:02,800 --> 02:04:06,159
recommends the appointment of Judy Coun

3095
02:04:06,159 --> 02:04:08,000
to serve as director of public works.

3096
02:04:08,000 --> 02:04:09,360
and I'm formally submitting her

3097
02:04:09,360 --> 02:04:11,520
credentials for your consideration. The

3098
02:04:11,520 --> 02:04:13,679
Wcomo Department of Public Works is

3099
02:04:13,679 --> 02:04:15,360
committed to enhancing the quality of

3100
02:04:15,360 --> 02:04:18,239
life for our citizens uh by striving to

3101
02:04:18,239 --> 02:04:19,840
plan, construct, and maintain the

3102
02:04:19,840 --> 02:04:22,960
county's public works infrastructure.

3103
02:04:22,960 --> 02:04:24,560
>> Thank you, Mr. Le.

3104
02:04:24,560 --> 02:04:26,239
>> Next is the submission of an appointment

3105
02:04:26,239 --> 02:04:28,719
to the board of library trustees.

3106
02:04:28,719 --> 02:04:30,159
>> County executive recommends the

3107
02:04:30,159 --> 02:04:31,679
appointment of Zachary Meyer to the

3108
02:04:31,679 --> 02:04:33,360
board of library trustees, and I'm

3109
02:04:33,360 --> 02:04:35,119
formally submitting his credentials for

3110
02:04:35,119 --> 02:04:37,360
your consideration. The board sets

3111
02:04:37,360 --> 02:04:39,440
policies and procedural guidelines for

3112
02:04:39,440 --> 02:04:41,840
the library and oversees proposed and

3113
02:04:41,840 --> 02:04:44,320
approved budget operations.

3114
02:04:44,320 --> 02:04:44,560
Okay.

3115
02:04:44,560 --> 02:04:48,239
>> Before use resolution number 140-2026.

3116
02:04:48,239 --> 02:04:49,920
This is confirming the appointment of

3117
02:04:49,920 --> 02:04:52,239
Zachary Meyer to the board of library

3118
02:04:52,239 --> 02:04:54,480
trustees.

3119
02:04:54,480 --> 02:04:55,599
>> Entertain a motion from council to

3120
02:04:55,599 --> 02:04:58,080
approve resolution 14026.

3121
02:04:58,080 --> 02:04:59,040
Second. Second.

3122
02:04:59,040 --> 02:05:01,520
>> Discussion. All those in favor say I.

3123
02:05:01,520 --> 02:05:04,000
>> Opposed? Motion is carried. Resolution

3124
02:05:04,000 --> 02:05:05,920
passes unanimously. or two.

3125
02:05:05,920 --> 02:05:07,199
>> That's all I have, Mr. President.

3126
02:05:07,199 --> 02:05:08,480
>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Leak.

3127
02:05:08,480 --> 02:05:12,080
>> I speak too early.

3128
02:05:12,080 --> 02:05:15,040
>> Okay. Thursdays.

3129
02:05:15,040 --> 02:05:17,199
>> Dr. Hersburgger. How are you? Good to

3130
02:05:17,199 --> 02:05:19,040
see you. Thank you for being here.

3131
02:05:19,040 --> 02:05:23,040
>> I'll share. You might have to.

3132
02:05:23,040 --> 02:05:24,800
>> Good afternoon, Council President

3133
02:05:24,800 --> 02:05:27,280
Cannon. Wakamo County Council. My name

3134
02:05:27,280 --> 02:05:29,199
is Andre Chhatel. I'd like to present

3135
02:05:29,199 --> 02:05:31,679
resolution 141206.

3136
02:05:31,679 --> 02:05:33,599
Um on the agenda it says accepting the

3137
02:05:33,599 --> 02:05:37,599
solid waste billing report. Um in the uh

3138
02:05:37,599 --> 02:05:40,400
brief book I think it says acknowledging

3139
02:05:40,400 --> 02:05:43,199
um instead of accepting. So

3140
02:05:43,199 --> 02:05:46,000
>> thank y mutil entertain a motion from

3141
02:05:46,000 --> 02:05:49,360
council to approve resolution 1412026

3142
02:05:49,360 --> 02:05:50,000
moved.

3143
02:05:50,000 --> 02:05:51,280
>> Second

3144
02:05:51,280 --> 02:05:53,440
>> discussion.

3145
02:05:53,440 --> 02:05:55,360
You want to elaborate any on some of the

3146
02:05:55,360 --> 02:05:56,800
particulars of it miss?

3147
02:05:56,800 --> 02:05:59,119
>> Yes yes yes please. Thank you. Um so the

3148
02:05:59,119 --> 02:06:00,800
focus of the exercise was to evaluate

3149
02:06:00,800 --> 02:06:03,119
the adequacy of controls for the solid

3150
02:06:03,119 --> 02:06:06,480
waste division billing practices. Um and

3151
02:06:06,480 --> 02:06:08,159
so the objectives were to evaluate the

3152
02:06:08,159 --> 02:06:10,159
controls designed to manage risks

3153
02:06:10,159 --> 02:06:12,880
related to reporting accurate reliable

3154
02:06:12,880 --> 02:06:15,520
information compliance with policies

3155
02:06:15,520 --> 02:06:18,159
efficiency uh sorry effectively and

3156
02:06:18,159 --> 02:06:19,920
efficiently using resources and of

3157
02:06:19,920 --> 02:06:22,000
course to make recommendations. Um I

3158
02:06:22,000 --> 02:06:23,440
concluded the program design was

3159
02:06:23,440 --> 02:06:26,800
satisfactory and I had four uh finding

3160
02:06:26,800 --> 02:06:30,239
areas or headings. Um and uh the four

3161
02:06:30,239 --> 02:06:33,040
were county code development for finance

3162
02:06:33,040 --> 02:06:35,040
charges, county code development

3163
02:06:35,040 --> 02:06:38,560
permits, munis journal entry procedures

3164
02:06:38,560 --> 02:06:41,199
um pricing system controls. That last

3165
02:06:41,199 --> 02:06:43,599
one was partly remediated. Additionally,

3166
02:06:43,599 --> 02:06:46,639
there's an appendix with a table that um

3167
02:06:46,639 --> 02:06:48,639
was based on a price list provided to me

3168
02:06:48,639 --> 02:06:50,400
by the solid waste management and

3169
02:06:50,400 --> 02:06:53,440
management did provide a response. Um

3170
02:06:53,440 --> 02:06:55,040
there's additional information in the

3171
02:06:55,040 --> 02:06:58,480
report and um a special thanks to all

3172
02:06:58,480 --> 02:06:59,840
the departments and staff that helped

3173
02:06:59,840 --> 02:07:02,480
with the project and um I would post it

3174
02:07:02,480 --> 02:07:05,199
if you approve it and um or acknowledge

3175
02:07:05,199 --> 02:07:06,880
it and I'll be glad to answer any

3176
02:07:06,880 --> 02:07:08,719
questions you have.

3177
02:07:08,719 --> 02:07:10,719
>> Questions from anybody?

3178
02:07:10,719 --> 02:07:12,320
>> I've got one. I I don't know if you can

3179
02:07:12,320 --> 02:07:13,679
answer this or not. You made reference

3180
02:07:13,679 --> 02:07:16,079
to rental revenue that was not tested,

3181
02:07:16,079 --> 02:07:19,679
which is probably fine. What uh what

3182
02:07:19,679 --> 02:07:22,079
revenue what are we renting? Do you

3183
02:07:22,079 --> 02:07:22,320
know?

3184
02:07:22,320 --> 02:07:26,560
>> Yeah. [laughter] And and I did test the rental revenue a little bit. Um but

3185
02:07:26,560 --> 02:07:30,719
then I was uh asked to um not uh discuss

3186
02:07:30,719 --> 02:07:34,400
it further because of ongoing legal um

3187
02:07:34,400 --> 02:07:36,159
concerns.

3188
02:07:36,159 --> 02:07:38,800
So, um, it might be something that would

3189
02:07:38,800 --> 02:07:42,719
be for a close session to to go into.

3190
02:07:42,719 --> 02:07:44,239
>> That's good enough answer for me.

3191
02:07:44,239 --> 02:07:45,360
>> Okay. [laughter]

3192
02:07:45,360 --> 02:07:47,440
>> Then there were concerns about pricing

3193
02:07:47,440 --> 02:07:50,960
issues and and and uh permits

3194
02:07:50,960 --> 02:07:53,119
>> and not you know their confusion on

3195
02:07:53,119 --> 02:07:54,800
exactly how much they were charging for

3196
02:07:54,800 --> 02:07:56,400
some permits and other permits and then

3197
02:07:56,400 --> 02:07:58,159
there were journal entries as well which

3198
02:07:58,159 --> 02:08:00,560
were a little bit confusing. Do you feel

3199
02:08:00,560 --> 02:08:02,159
comfortable that that's being resolved

3200
02:08:02,159 --> 02:08:03,360
through your process?

3201
02:08:03,360 --> 02:08:05,599
>> Yes. So for the journal entries I think

3202
02:08:05,599 --> 02:08:10,239
there was a process change and um a and

3203
02:08:10,239 --> 02:08:13,199
what what I caught the external auditor

3204
02:08:13,199 --> 02:08:15,520
also caught. So um you know it's not

3205
02:08:15,520 --> 02:08:17,360
necessarily my finding per se. So so

3206
02:08:17,360 --> 02:08:19,679
mine is more about like the delay in the

3207
02:08:19,679 --> 02:08:21,119
processing rather than that doing it

3208
02:08:21,119 --> 02:08:22,880
because the the external auditor did

3209
02:08:22,880 --> 02:08:24,239
make that recommendation to them and

3210
02:08:24,239 --> 02:08:27,199
they did uh adjust um and do a journal

3211
02:08:27,199 --> 02:08:28,639
entry. So there was something about

3212
02:08:28,639 --> 02:08:30,560
where they enter the information into

3213
02:08:30,560 --> 02:08:32,560
the system and then there's a separate

3214
02:08:32,560 --> 02:08:36,079
process for uh posting and releasing and

3215
02:08:36,079 --> 02:08:37,840
so forth and so finance couldn't see

3216
02:08:37,840 --> 02:08:39,119
what solid waste had been doing

3217
02:08:39,119 --> 02:08:42,400
basically. So uh for that recommendation

3218
02:08:42,400 --> 02:08:44,320
um

3219
02:08:44,320 --> 02:08:46,480
it's you know to update the policies and

3220
02:08:46,480 --> 02:08:49,520
procedures for entering and then um

3221
02:08:49,520 --> 02:08:51,599
releasing those journal entries so that

3222
02:08:51,599 --> 02:08:53,760
finance can see them. I think I think

3223
02:08:53,760 --> 02:08:57,280
that one was fairly harmless. Um the the

3224
02:08:57,280 --> 02:09:03,040
pricing system controls one. Um there were some updates to the county

3225
02:09:03,040 --> 02:09:06,560
code. Um and so I think part of the

3226
02:09:06,560 --> 02:09:10,639
county code updates were were there. Um

3227
02:09:10,639 --> 02:09:13,280
and so then there was also separately a

3228
02:09:13,280 --> 02:09:15,280
communication concern between the brush

3229
02:09:15,280 --> 02:09:18,800
pile and the scale house. Uh so for for

3230
02:09:18,800 --> 02:09:20,320
the communication one of course uh

3231
02:09:20,320 --> 02:09:22,480
training the scale house and brush pel

3232
02:09:22,480 --> 02:09:25,040
as needed on required communication that

3233
02:09:25,040 --> 02:09:26,880
there could be other enhancements to the

3234
02:09:26,880 --> 02:09:29,199
communication um but it wasn't something

3235
02:09:29,199 --> 02:09:31,440
I did a costbenefit analysis on so I

3236
02:09:31,440 --> 02:09:33,119
didn't include in the report so maybe

3237
02:09:33,119 --> 02:09:35,280
communication tools but I think that's

3238
02:09:35,280 --> 02:09:37,360
something for management's discretion um

3239
02:09:37,360 --> 02:09:38,880
on the tools that they use to improve

3240
02:09:38,880 --> 02:09:41,760
that communication.

3241
02:09:41,760 --> 02:09:44,719
All those in favor of resolution 1412026

3242
02:09:44,719 --> 02:09:46,800
say I oppos.

3243
02:09:46,800 --> 02:09:51,040
>> Motion's carried. Resolution passes.

3244
02:09:51,040 --> 02:09:53,599
>> All right. Um okay. I also have

3245
02:09:53,599 --> 02:09:56,880
resolution 142 2026 approving the job

3246
02:09:56,880 --> 02:09:59,119
description of the internal audit

3247
02:09:59,119 --> 02:10:03,840
volunteer intern. Um and in in what in

3248
02:10:03,840 --> 02:10:06,400
this resolution there um are some other

3249
02:10:06,400 --> 02:10:10,239
um exhibit items um including a memo um

3250
02:10:10,239 --> 02:10:13,920
and uh uh research items on where

3251
02:10:13,920 --> 02:10:15,679
interns are paid, when do they have to

3252
02:10:15,679 --> 02:10:19,920
be paid um and uh the the information in

3253
02:10:19,920 --> 02:10:21,760
this one I think is also relevant to the

3254
02:10:21,760 --> 02:10:25,360
next resolution. Council

3255
02:10:25,360 --> 02:10:28,480
approve resolution 142 20226 move

3256
02:10:28,480 --> 02:10:30,159
>> second discussion.

3257
02:10:30,159 --> 02:10:33,280
>> Um yeah I do

3258
02:10:33,280 --> 02:10:35,040
>> yeah this is growing government. Here we

3259
02:10:35,040 --> 02:10:37,199
go again. Um do you have a letter from

3260
02:10:37,199 --> 02:10:39,280
the internal audit committee supporting

3261
02:10:39,280 --> 02:10:41,280
this?

3262
02:10:41,280 --> 02:10:46,000
>> I I might have in the past. I'm not 100%

3263
02:10:46,000 --> 02:10:48,000
sure. Um,

3264
02:10:48,000 --> 02:10:49,199
>> I wouldn't think it would should even

3265
02:10:49,199 --> 02:10:50,960
come to the table unless you have a

3266
02:10:50,960 --> 02:10:52,320
support from your internal audit

3267
02:10:52,320 --> 02:10:52,719
committee.

3268
02:10:52,719 --> 02:10:54,159
>> As well as for the volunteer one,

3269
02:10:54,159 --> 02:10:54,639
>> pardon [snorts] me.

3270
02:10:54,639 --> 02:10:57,119
>> As well as for the volunteer one.

3271
02:10:57,119 --> 02:10:58,480
>> This the first one is the volunteer.

3272
02:10:58,480 --> 02:10:59,280
This is the paid one.

3273
02:10:59,280 --> 02:11:01,440
>> The second one's the paid one.

3274
02:11:01,440 --> 02:11:02,560
>> Oh, I thought Well,

3275
02:11:02,560 --> 02:11:04,480
>> there's either one. I mean, you should

3276
02:11:04,480 --> 02:11:06,000
have a letter of support from your audit

3277
02:11:06,000 --> 02:11:07,599
committee for either one of them,

3278
02:11:07,599 --> 02:11:08,960
shouldn't you?

3279
02:11:08,960 --> 02:11:09,760
>> Really?

3280
02:11:09,760 --> 02:11:11,440
>> There's a volunteer.

3281
02:11:11,440 --> 02:11:13,360
>> It's just a volunteer.

3282
02:11:13,360 --> 02:11:15,440
>> Uh, resolution 142 is the volunteer.

3283
02:11:15,440 --> 02:11:16,639
Yeah. The f the first one's for the

3284
02:11:16,639 --> 02:11:18,079
volunteer intern. The second one's for

3285
02:11:18,079 --> 02:11:18,560
the paid.

3286
02:11:18,560 --> 02:11:19,920
>> Well, you should you should you should

3287
02:11:19,920 --> 02:11:21,760
have letters of support for either one.

3288
02:11:21,760 --> 02:11:22,719
Do you have a letter of support for

3289
02:11:22,719 --> 02:11:24,000
either one?

3290
02:11:24,000 --> 02:11:25,440
>> I' I've discussed it at the audit

3291
02:11:25,440 --> 02:11:26,960
committee meeting. I don't I don't know

3292
02:11:26,960 --> 02:11:29,920
if I have specifically. I might have had

3293
02:11:29,920 --> 02:11:31,360
one in the past that I present. I can't

3294
02:11:31,360 --> 02:11:33,440
remember right now. Um

3295
02:11:33,440 --> 02:11:36,639
>> let's I'll make a motion that we um

3296
02:11:36,639 --> 02:11:39,280
postpone this until we get an opinion

3297
02:11:39,280 --> 02:11:40,320
from the audit committee.

3298
02:11:40,320 --> 02:11:41,040
>> Second.

3299
02:11:41,040 --> 02:11:41,920
>> I'll second that.

3300
02:11:41,920 --> 02:11:43,760
>> Motion second. All those in favor say I.

3301
02:11:43,760 --> 02:11:44,880
>> I. I

3302
02:11:44,880 --> 02:11:45,679
>> opposed

3303
02:11:45,679 --> 02:11:47,280
>> post

3304
02:11:47,280 --> 02:11:50,960
opposed motion uh to postpone fails by a

3305
02:11:50,960 --> 02:11:53,360
vote of five to two.

3306
02:11:53,360 --> 02:11:55,119
>> Uh Mr. Tail, any any other information

3307
02:11:55,119 --> 02:11:56,239
you want to spot?

3308
02:11:56,239 --> 02:11:59,360
>> Yeah. Uh so we had a discussion before

3309
02:11:59,360 --> 02:12:01,280
and and just to clarify, I I thought at

3310
02:12:01,280 --> 02:12:03,440
that prior discussion that it was just I

3311
02:12:03,440 --> 02:12:05,920
was going to do research on not and and

3312
02:12:05,920 --> 02:12:08,480
so I apologize I didn't have a a letter,

3313
02:12:08,480 --> 02:12:11,280
but I I did get various intern

3314
02:12:11,280 --> 02:12:13,679
descriptions, job descriptions. Um I

3315
02:12:13,679 --> 02:12:15,520
also got the letter from or the email

3316
02:12:15,520 --> 02:12:19,360
from uh HR um regarding the whole paid

3317
02:12:19,360 --> 02:12:22,719
and and unpaid status. So essentially if

3318
02:12:22,719 --> 02:12:27,199
a intern is paid or is is is unpaid they

3319
02:12:27,199 --> 02:12:29,599
can't really do I believe they can't

3320
02:12:29,599 --> 02:12:32,239
really do um

3321
02:12:32,239 --> 02:12:34,800
work that would take away from a regular

3322
02:12:34,800 --> 02:12:37,520
paying job. And so um there's some

3323
02:12:37,520 --> 02:12:39,679
differences between this resolution

3324
02:12:39,679 --> 02:12:42,719
description and then 143 for the the

3325
02:12:42,719 --> 02:12:48,320
paid intern. Um for instance where

3326
02:12:48,320 --> 02:12:51,199
sorry let me find I highlighted in okay

3327
02:12:51,199 --> 02:12:53,840
so uh for the unpaid they would review

3328
02:12:53,840 --> 02:12:56,400
documents whereas the paid intern would

3329
02:12:56,400 --> 02:12:59,119
like edit potentially write documents.

3330
02:12:59,119 --> 02:13:03,040
Um there's uh

3331
02:13:03,040 --> 02:13:06,960
close supervision for the volunteer one.

3332
02:13:06,960 --> 02:13:08,400
Uh there would still be supervision, but

3333
02:13:08,400 --> 02:13:10,719
it maybe wouldn't be as close for the um

3334
02:13:10,719 --> 02:13:16,320
the paid intern. Um and then there's um

3335
02:13:16,320 --> 02:13:18,239
a little bit more knowledge requirement

3336
02:13:18,239 --> 02:13:20,960
for the paid intern.

3337
02:13:20,960 --> 02:13:22,320
Um so

3338
02:13:22,320 --> 02:13:24,239
>> I think a point of of clarification

3339
02:13:24,239 --> 02:13:26,320
here, these motions aren't to hire these

3340
02:13:26,320 --> 02:13:28,800
individuals. These motions are to create

3341
02:13:28,800 --> 02:13:30,480
and approve the job description.

3342
02:13:30,480 --> 02:13:31,360
>> Correct. Correct.

3343
02:13:31,360 --> 02:13:34,079
>> So before any of this goes any further,

3344
02:13:34,079 --> 02:13:35,760
especially before we're going to expend

3345
02:13:35,760 --> 02:13:38,079
any funds, that would come back to the

3346
02:13:38,079 --> 02:13:39,679
council. This is simply just to approve

3347
02:13:39,679 --> 02:13:41,360
the job description that the internal

3348
02:13:41,360 --> 02:13:43,360
order has put together for the council.

3349
02:13:43,360 --> 02:13:45,360
>> Correct. So So when I come uh so when I

3350
02:13:45,360 --> 02:13:48,560
prepare the budget for my uh unit or

3351
02:13:48,560 --> 02:13:51,599
subunit, um

3352
02:13:51,599 --> 02:13:53,280
at that time I could have a letter from

3353
02:13:53,280 --> 02:13:54,880
the audit committee if you if you would

3354
02:13:54,880 --> 02:13:59,599
like that. so that when you have your budget numbers from me that it also

3355
02:13:59,599 --> 02:14:01,040
says I want this intern and here's the

3356
02:14:01,040 --> 02:14:03,840
letter for that next fiscal year. Um and

3357
02:14:03,840 --> 02:14:07,599
then we can discuss later on perhaps the

3358
02:14:07,599 --> 02:14:10,320
process of you know who would be the uh

3359
02:14:10,320 --> 02:14:11,760
person interviewing? Would it just be

3360
02:14:11,760 --> 02:14:12,960
me? Would it be me and the council

3361
02:14:12,960 --> 02:14:15,280
member? Several members of the council

3362
02:14:15,280 --> 02:14:18,880
in um in interviewing for the intern. I

3363
02:14:18,880 --> 02:14:20,880
feel like an unpaid intern I I would

3364
02:14:20,880 --> 02:14:22,000
like to have a little bit more leeway,

3365
02:14:22,000 --> 02:14:24,079
but for the paid one, absolutely. Um,

3366
02:14:24,079 --> 02:14:26,560
you know, having whatever you guys feel

3367
02:14:26,560 --> 02:14:28,079
appropriate for who interviews and

3368
02:14:28,079 --> 02:14:29,119
selects the intern.

3369
02:14:29,119 --> 02:14:31,280
>> I feel like we're discussing uh the job

3370
02:14:31,280 --> 02:14:34,320
position for a $160,000 job. This is

3371
02:14:34,320 --> 02:14:36,719
just [laughter] a freaking intern.

3372
02:14:36,719 --> 02:14:37,599
>> Yes.

3373
02:14:37,599 --> 02:14:40,400
>> With it goes to that's a student. And if

3374
02:14:40,400 --> 02:14:42,960
we want students to be able to be that,

3375
02:14:42,960 --> 02:14:44,320
you know, stronger, then they got to go

3376
02:14:44,320 --> 02:14:46,239
and start in some sort of situation. So,

3377
02:14:46,239 --> 02:14:48,400
this is just an unpaid intern. Yes.

3378
02:14:48,400 --> 02:14:49,599
>> We don't need to throw the book at them

3379
02:14:49,599 --> 02:14:50,719
that they have to go and doing every

3380
02:14:50,719 --> 02:14:52,159
single thing. You know, this is just

3381
02:14:52,159 --> 02:14:53,599
simply let's get someone in the door,

3382
02:14:53,599 --> 02:14:54,719
help them learn. So hopefully one day

3383
02:14:54,719 --> 02:14:55,760
they work for the county and provide

3384
02:14:55,760 --> 02:14:56,480
value back to us.

3385
02:14:56,480 --> 02:14:58,239
>> Yeah. And and just to remember uh this

3386
02:14:58,239 --> 02:14:59,760
position that I'm currently in was

3387
02:14:59,760 --> 02:15:01,520
vacant for a while. Part of that might

3388
02:15:01,520 --> 02:15:04,320
be that we don't have a lot of [snorts]

3389
02:15:04,320 --> 02:15:07,599
people experienced in uh internal audit

3390
02:15:07,599 --> 02:15:10,960
on the Eastern Shore. And so having that

3391
02:15:10,960 --> 02:15:14,079
people interested in this uh for future

3392
02:15:14,079 --> 02:15:15,760
people to eventually take over. I'm not

3393
02:15:15,760 --> 02:15:16,853
trying to leave today, you know,

3394
02:15:16,853 --> 02:15:18,880
[laughter] but but you know that we have

3395
02:15:18,880 --> 02:15:20,480
people that have some experience so that

3396
02:15:20,480 --> 02:15:23,040
when they can come into a role, a more

3397
02:15:23,040 --> 02:15:24,400
permanent role that they've they've had

3398
02:15:24,400 --> 02:15:25,040
that. Yeah.

3399
02:15:25,040 --> 02:15:26,480
>> Take this to a vote. All those in favor

3400
02:15:26,480 --> 02:15:29,520
of resolution 142 2026 say I

3401
02:15:29,520 --> 02:15:31,599
>> opposed. Motion is carried. Resolution

3402
02:15:31,599 --> 02:15:33,520
passes unanimously.

3403
02:15:33,520 --> 02:15:36,719
>> Thank you. Uh and then for 143 approving

3404
02:15:36,719 --> 02:15:41,440
the uh job description for the uh paid

3405
02:15:41,440 --> 02:15:43,119
intern. I don't if I'm saying this yeah

3406
02:15:43,119 --> 02:15:45,360
for the paid intern motion council to

3407
02:15:45,360 --> 02:15:48,320
approve resolution 143 20226 move

3408
02:15:48,320 --> 02:15:49,280
>> second

3409
02:15:49,280 --> 02:15:50,320
>> discussion

3410
02:15:50,320 --> 02:15:52,159
>> all those in favor say I

3411
02:15:52,159 --> 02:15:54,320
>> opposed motion is carried resolution

3412
02:15:54,320 --> 02:15:55,040
passes

3413
02:15:55,040 --> 02:15:57,040
>> I sincerely thank you all very much for

3414
02:15:57,040 --> 02:15:57,599
this

3415
02:15:57,599 --> 02:15:58,774
>> thank you thanks for taking the

3416
02:15:58,774 --> 02:16:00,400
[laughter] time to put together you had

3417
02:16:00,400 --> 02:16:02,079
a grants audit update [snorts]

3418
02:16:02,079 --> 02:16:05,760
>> yes I do all right um so I put a memo in

3419
02:16:05,760 --> 02:16:07,920
the uh brief book for you uh there was

3420
02:16:07,920 --> 02:16:09,520
an entrance conference for the grants

3421
02:16:09,520 --> 02:16:12,239
audit on August 10th among Among other

3422
02:16:12,239 --> 02:16:15,119
things, I've received the uh Wakamo

3423
02:16:15,119 --> 02:16:17,199
County Grant Administration manual dated

3424
02:16:17,199 --> 02:16:21,199
April 1st, 2026. Um grant list from uh

3425
02:16:21,199 --> 02:16:23,599
both the Department of Aviation, also

3426
02:16:23,599 --> 02:16:25,199
called the airport, and Department of

3427
02:16:25,199 --> 02:16:26,639
Planning, Zoning, and Community

3428
02:16:26,639 --> 02:16:28,960
Development. [snorts] Um I've selected

3429
02:16:28,960 --> 02:16:30,880
grants for potential testing. And I have

3430
02:16:30,880 --> 02:16:32,240
received other documents, by the way.

3431
02:16:32,240 --> 02:16:34,080
These are just some of the ones I I

3432
02:16:34,080 --> 02:16:36,960
mentioned in the memo. Um, we also had a

3433
02:16:36,960 --> 02:16:40,479
meeting um, since this memo where I said

3434
02:16:40,479 --> 02:16:42,800
I requested the meetings. Um, I have had

3435
02:16:42,800 --> 02:16:45,439
a meeting with the airport. Um,

3436
02:16:45,439 --> 02:16:46,960
everybody agreed I could say it was a

3437
02:16:46,960 --> 02:16:48,960
productive meeting. Um, or I believe

3438
02:16:48,960 --> 02:16:50,319
they agreed that I could say it was a

3439
02:16:50,319 --> 02:16:53,519
productive meeting. Um, and uh, I'm here

3440
02:16:53,519 --> 02:16:54,960
to answer any other questions you may

3441
02:16:54,960 --> 02:16:57,280
have on that.

3442
02:16:57,280 --> 02:16:59,040
>> Just uh, I think you just said it so

3443
02:16:59,040 --> 02:17:01,599
smooth sailing so far versus some of the

3444
02:17:01,599 --> 02:17:03,679
past recent past history. You'd say?

3445
02:17:03,679 --> 02:17:06,000
>> Yeah. Yeah. I I think that having the

3446
02:17:06,000 --> 02:17:10,800
meccing uh finance in

3447
02:17:10,800 --> 02:17:12,719
I think this is really helping a lot

3448
02:17:12,719 --> 02:17:14,319
with all audits.

3449
02:17:14,319 --> 02:17:16,960
>> Okay. It was just CCing that department

3450
02:17:16,960 --> 02:17:19,280
that opened up everything.

3451
02:17:19,280 --> 02:17:22,479
>> Good, good, good.

3452
02:17:22,479 --> 02:17:23,840
>> Well, thank you very much. We appreciate

3453
02:17:23,840 --> 02:17:24,240
being here.

3454
02:17:24,240 --> 02:17:26,240
>> Thank you. Before we go into public

3455
02:17:26,240 --> 02:17:27,439
comments, I know there's some people

3456
02:17:27,439 --> 02:17:30,160
here to um uh probably for the mobile

3457
02:17:30,160 --> 02:17:32,479
home park uh work session, but there

3458
02:17:32,479 --> 02:17:34,800
will be a half hour recess after public

3459
02:17:34,800 --> 02:17:36,479
comments, just so you're aware of that.

3460
02:17:36,479 --> 02:17:38,800
Okay, we're I know we're going late, but

3461
02:17:38,800 --> 02:17:41,760
we go late often. I apologize for that.

3462
02:17:41,760 --> 02:17:43,120
At this time, we open the floor for

3463
02:17:43,120 --> 02:17:44,240
public comments. If you have any

3464
02:17:44,240 --> 02:17:45,519
comments that you'd like to make, please

3465
02:17:45,519 --> 02:17:46,719
come to the podium. Please state your

3466
02:17:46,719 --> 02:17:48,240
name, your county of residence, and your

3467
02:17:48,240 --> 02:17:55,589
concerns. Tim

3468
02:17:55,599 --> 02:17:58,479
Jim Atkins, Waggamo County. Uh it's good

3469
02:17:58,479 --> 02:18:01,040
to hear that the auditor is having a

3470
02:18:01,040 --> 02:18:03,920
little more success uh with her audits.

3471
02:18:03,920 --> 02:18:07,120
However, uh looking at at some of the

3472
02:18:07,120 --> 02:18:09,200
information that she supplied to the

3473
02:18:09,200 --> 02:18:12,319
council, there are uh some things in

3474
02:18:12,319 --> 02:18:15,040
there that I think we should be worrying

3475
02:18:15,040 --> 02:18:18,399
about. Uh one of them uh since this was

3476
02:18:18,399 --> 02:18:21,920
an audit of public works,

3477
02:18:21,920 --> 02:18:25,120
the statement that was made in the audit

3478
02:18:25,120 --> 02:18:28,000
because of inherent limitations in

3479
02:18:28,000 --> 02:18:30,160
internal controls,

3480
02:18:30,160 --> 02:18:33,760
errors or fraud may still occur and go

3481
02:18:33,760 --> 02:18:36,319
undetected.

3482
02:18:36,319 --> 02:18:39,760
Public works fraud, how could that ever

3483
02:18:39,760 --> 02:18:42,960
happen? You know, it's just But we're

3484
02:18:42,960 --> 02:18:44,960
still doing it.

3485
02:18:44,960 --> 02:18:47,599
Uh, I'm sorry if I'm boring any council

3486
02:18:47,599 --> 02:18:52,880
members that want to text rather than pay attention to the community.

3487
02:18:52,880 --> 02:18:54,399
Uh,

3488
02:18:54,399 --> 02:18:56,880
second part, solid waste billing and

3489
02:18:56,880 --> 02:18:58,880
data policies,

3490
02:18:58,880 --> 02:19:01,599
procedures overview states if an invoice

3491
02:19:01,599 --> 02:19:04,639
is not paid within 30 days, a finance

3492
02:19:04,639 --> 02:19:08,880
charge is applied to the account.

3493
02:19:08,880 --> 02:19:13,040
However, it says that the

3494
02:19:13,040 --> 02:19:15,040
management discussed with the internal

3495
02:19:15,040 --> 02:19:17,359
auditor the difficulties recouping

3496
02:19:17,359 --> 02:19:20,559
finance charges from some customers.

3497
02:19:20,559 --> 02:19:23,040
During fieldwork, management learned

3498
02:19:23,040 --> 02:19:25,920
that policy is added finance charges. A

3499
02:19:25,920 --> 02:19:29,359
bill is not paid in 60 days rather than

3500
02:19:29,359 --> 02:19:32,000
in 30, but there are difficulties

3501
02:19:32,000 --> 02:19:35,599
recouping the finance charges.

3502
02:19:35,599 --> 02:19:37,280
How are these people still dealing with

3503
02:19:37,280 --> 02:19:40,399
the county if they don't pay their bill?

3504
02:19:40,399 --> 02:19:42,240
How are they pulling their trucks into

3505
02:19:42,240 --> 02:19:44,559
the landfill if they're not paying their

3506
02:19:44,559 --> 02:19:48,720
bill? Stop them at the guard shack and

3507
02:19:48,720 --> 02:19:50,960
tell them when you bring us a check,

3508
02:19:50,960 --> 02:19:53,359
we'll let you come back. Why is the

3509
02:19:53,359 --> 02:19:55,120
county have such a problem collecting

3510
02:19:55,120 --> 02:19:57,200
money?

3511
02:19:57,200 --> 02:20:00,479
So, let's work on that. Uh, one of the

3512
02:20:00,479 --> 02:20:04,319
other concerns I have is that it keeps

3513
02:20:04,319 --> 02:20:07,280
coming up in council meetings that we

3514
02:20:07,280 --> 02:20:10,640
should have closed sessions.

3515
02:20:10,640 --> 02:20:13,120
in in in my

3516
02:20:13,120 --> 02:20:15,280
understanding should deal with personnel

3517
02:20:15,280 --> 02:20:16,800
issues,

3518
02:20:16,800 --> 02:20:18,960
legal issues,

3519
02:20:18,960 --> 02:20:22,160
and possibly the purchasing of property

3520
02:20:22,160 --> 02:20:26,240
by the county, which it makes sense.

3521
02:20:26,240 --> 02:20:28,640
But there shouldn't be as many proposed

3522
02:20:28,640 --> 02:20:30,800
closed meetings.

3523
02:20:30,800 --> 02:20:33,600
We hear so many times from this council

3524
02:20:33,600 --> 02:20:36,479
table transparency,

3525
02:20:36,479 --> 02:20:39,439
but let's have a closed meeting. The

3526
02:20:39,439 --> 02:20:42,880
public has a right to know what the

3527
02:20:42,880 --> 02:20:46,160
county is spending money on. If county

3528
02:20:46,160 --> 02:20:48,319
is being wasted,

3529
02:20:48,319 --> 02:20:51,280
if council members are spending money

3530
02:20:51,280 --> 02:20:53,200
for lodging

3531
02:20:53,200 --> 02:20:55,120
when they shouldn't be spending money

3532
02:20:55,120 --> 02:20:57,600
for lodging, the public has a right to

3533
02:20:57,600 --> 02:21:00,720
know that. That's not closed meetings.

3534
02:21:00,720 --> 02:21:03,200
Keep it open. Keep it transparent. Thank

3535
02:21:03,200 --> 02:21:04,000
you.

3536
02:21:04,000 --> 02:21:08,870
>> Hey, Mr. Atkins.

3537
02:21:08,880 --> 02:21:12,800
» Again, my name is Mary Ashanti. um back

3538
02:21:12,800 --> 02:21:15,200
to the emergency

3539
02:21:15,200 --> 02:21:17,200
um

3540
02:21:17,200 --> 02:21:20,399
act that was signed and thank you for

3541
02:21:20,399 --> 02:21:23,280
that. But I have a my question one of my

3542
02:21:23,280 --> 02:21:27,120
question is is when will the information

3543
02:21:27,120 --> 02:21:31,040
go out to the public soliciting profile

3544
02:21:31,040 --> 02:21:34,720
a res resume uh for people that want to

3545
02:21:34,720 --> 02:21:38,880
serve on that committee. and who will

3546
02:21:38,880 --> 02:21:43,920
the resume or profile go to? Um,

3547
02:21:43,920 --> 02:21:45,680
one of the things that I want to

3548
02:21:45,680 --> 02:21:47,280
recommend

3549
02:21:47,280 --> 02:21:50,800
that the county council get also get a

3550
02:21:50,800 --> 02:21:55,200
copy of that those resumes

3551
02:21:55,200 --> 02:21:58,479
and not just one,

3552
02:21:58,479 --> 02:22:01,200
not just the county executive. I think

3553
02:22:01,200 --> 02:22:04,640
you both should get a copy of it because

3554
02:22:04,640 --> 02:22:09,359
um past history some resumes are tabled

3555
02:22:09,359 --> 02:22:12,399
or whatever until we ask question as to

3556
02:22:12,399 --> 02:22:15,040
what happened to them. So that causes

3557
02:22:15,040 --> 02:22:19,590
delay. Um

3558
02:22:19,600 --> 02:22:21,120
so

3559
02:22:21,120 --> 02:22:25,229
I have something else but another time

3560
02:22:25,229 --> 02:22:27,270
[laughter]

3561
02:22:27,280 --> 02:22:35,044
» I'll hold her there.

3562
02:22:35,054 --> 02:22:36,880
» [laughter]

3563
02:22:36,880 --> 02:22:38,640
>> It's really hard to follow that up. I'm

3564
02:22:38,640 --> 02:22:41,280
sorry. I'm hungry, too. Just so you

3565
02:22:41,280 --> 02:22:44,720
know, uh Joe White, Wcomaku County, uh

3566
02:22:44,720 --> 02:22:47,600
back on August 4th, uh this council

3567
02:22:47,600 --> 02:22:49,600
passed a one-year moratorum on data

3568
02:22:49,600 --> 02:22:52,640
centers. And uh at that time there was

3569
02:22:52,640 --> 02:22:54,960
some talk about I I know we're we're

3570
02:22:54,960 --> 02:22:57,280
going starting the comprehensive plan

3571
02:22:57,280 --> 02:23:00,319
back up, but there was some talk about

3572
02:23:00,319 --> 02:23:03,359
where the weak points might be. One year

3573
02:23:03,359 --> 02:23:06,080
in in the sense of planning happens

3574
02:23:06,080 --> 02:23:07,760
pretty fast and by the time this council

3575
02:23:07,760 --> 02:23:10,000
meets again, we'll we'll be down to 10

3576
02:23:10,000 --> 02:23:14,960
months. Uh on September 3rd, Worcester

3577
02:23:14,960 --> 02:23:17,520
County Planning Commission was set to

3578
02:23:17,520 --> 02:23:19,920
hear a text amendment

3579
02:23:19,920 --> 02:23:23,680
to to change some of their code that

3580
02:23:23,680 --> 02:23:27,359
would allow the landing site for uh data

3581
02:23:27,359 --> 02:23:29,760
wires coming in from AWS from across the

3582
02:23:29,760 --> 02:23:33,359
Atlantic. It was taken off after uh

3583
02:23:33,359 --> 02:23:36,479
there was known there was opposition.

3584
02:23:36,479 --> 02:23:38,880
And uh I think this ties into Wakcom

3585
02:23:38,880 --> 02:23:40,880
County because it has been said and I've

3586
02:23:40,880 --> 02:23:43,040
said it here before that they do have

3587
02:23:43,040 --> 02:23:45,920
technology now that can take those wires

3588
02:23:45,920 --> 02:23:48,640
and bore them several miles underground

3589
02:23:48,640 --> 02:23:51,200
within the eastern limits of Wcomaku

3590
02:23:51,200 --> 02:23:53,600
County. And as fast as that technology

3591
02:23:53,600 --> 02:23:55,920
advances it may be sooner than later

3592
02:23:55,920 --> 02:23:57,680
they could be anywhere on the Eastern

3593
02:23:57,680 --> 02:23:59,280
Shore.

3594
02:23:59,280 --> 02:24:02,240
My concern is on Wednesday, September

3595
02:24:02,240 --> 02:24:05,120
2nd, there was a Tri County Council

3596
02:24:05,120 --> 02:24:06,720
meeting and it was a presentation by

3597
02:24:06,720 --> 02:24:09,520
Maryland Broadband. Um, I'm not against

3598
02:24:09,520 --> 02:24:11,520
Tri County Council by any stretch, but

3599
02:24:11,520 --> 02:24:13,040
it wasn't a normal night for their

3600
02:24:13,040 --> 02:24:14,800
meeting and I know some some folks who

3601
02:24:14,800 --> 02:24:16,560
are on this council weren't able to be

3602
02:24:16,560 --> 02:24:19,760
there. Here's what I'm asking. I know

3603
02:24:19,760 --> 02:24:21,120
this council only has a couple months

3604
02:24:21,120 --> 02:24:23,359
left, but you're going to have a new

3605
02:24:23,359 --> 02:24:24,560
council and they're going to have a lot

3606
02:24:24,560 --> 02:24:26,479
on their plate and we've listed those

3607
02:24:26,479 --> 02:24:28,160
things and nursing homes going to be one

3608
02:24:28,160 --> 02:24:30,160
of them now. But let's have a work

3609
02:24:30,160 --> 02:24:32,479
session with Maryland Broadband. I've

3610
02:24:32,479 --> 02:24:36,399
looked them up. They're a 501c12.

3611
02:24:36,399 --> 02:24:37,920
I don't know what that is and I'm in

3612
02:24:37,920 --> 02:24:39,359
business and we talked about what's a

3613
02:24:39,359 --> 02:24:41,760
nonprofit earlier. Their founding

3614
02:24:41,760 --> 02:24:43,520
members are different tri county

3615
02:24:43,520 --> 02:24:46,080
councils amongst the state. My

3616
02:24:46,080 --> 02:24:48,399
understanding, and again, I'd rather

3617
02:24:48,399 --> 02:24:50,240
hear this from them, there's a lot of

3618
02:24:50,240 --> 02:24:52,399
money on the table. Whenever there's a

3619
02:24:52,399 --> 02:24:54,479
lot of money, I think the taxpayers

3620
02:24:54,479 --> 02:24:56,640
should be informed before this comes to

3621
02:24:56,640 --> 02:24:59,840
a council, any council, with a time

3622
02:24:59,840 --> 02:25:01,760
stamp. Oh, we have to have this done in

3623
02:25:01,760 --> 02:25:03,439
the next 30 days or it's not going to

3624
02:25:03,439 --> 02:25:08,080
happen. That has always led to us making

3625
02:25:08,080 --> 02:25:10,399
worse decisions and better decisions. So

3626
02:25:10,399 --> 02:25:13,200
my ask is that in October we invite

3627
02:25:13,200 --> 02:25:15,600
Maryland broadband here to do our work

3628
02:25:15,600 --> 02:25:17,840
session for you similar to the one they

3629
02:25:17,840 --> 02:25:20,160
did to the Tri County Council so that

3630
02:25:20,160 --> 02:25:22,880
the public can hear what what it is

3631
02:25:22,880 --> 02:25:35,830
they're working on so we know. Thanks.

3632
02:25:35,840 --> 02:25:38,000
» Mike Goldberg, Y Comico County. It's

3633
02:25:38,000 --> 02:25:39,680
lunchtime. I'll try to keep my comments

3634
02:25:39,680 --> 02:25:43,680
to under three hours. [laughter]

3635
02:25:43,680 --> 02:25:46,160
Cell 7 at the landfill. Substantial

3636
02:25:46,160 --> 02:25:47,760
completion was supposed to have been

3637
02:25:47,760 --> 02:25:49,600
achieved or is represented to us that

3638
02:25:49,600 --> 02:25:50,960
substantial completion would have been

3639
02:25:50,960 --> 02:25:54,479
achieved by August 17. Uh here we are

3640
02:25:54,479 --> 02:25:57,920
September 15th almost a month late. Um

3641
02:25:57,920 --> 02:26:01,359
this concerns me because we know that uh

3642
02:26:01,359 --> 02:26:03,600
there is all kinds of different

3643
02:26:03,600 --> 02:26:05,680
information coming in with regard to the

3644
02:26:05,680 --> 02:26:09,680
design schedule that um held up the

3645
02:26:09,680 --> 02:26:11,760
project for going out for construction

3646
02:26:11,760 --> 02:26:15,040
bidding. Um, we know that the county

3647
02:26:15,040 --> 02:26:17,600
executive was no less than 18 months

3648
02:26:17,600 --> 02:26:20,160
late in starting this process and this

3649
02:26:20,160 --> 02:26:23,200
was such a critical issue that the

3650
02:26:23,200 --> 02:26:25,840
executive had proposed that we would

3651
02:26:25,840 --> 02:26:28,080
shut down the landfill incrementally

3652
02:26:28,080 --> 02:26:30,240
which would not have reduced the volume

3653
02:26:30,240 --> 02:26:32,319
of trash going into the landfill. It

3654
02:26:32,319 --> 02:26:35,040
only would have created the backup. Um,

3655
02:26:35,040 --> 02:26:38,800
so, uh, I remain concerned that we're

3656
02:26:38,800 --> 02:26:41,520
going to wind up, uh, painting ourselves

3657
02:26:41,520 --> 02:26:44,000
into a corner and not having the reserve

3658
02:26:44,000 --> 02:26:46,160
space. I don't know. We haven't heard

3659
02:26:46,160 --> 02:26:48,800
anything from public works. Um, I hope

3660
02:26:48,800 --> 02:26:51,840
that the county council will compel the

3661
02:26:51,840 --> 02:26:53,600
Department of Public Works to appear

3662
02:26:53,600 --> 02:26:55,280
before this council in the very near

3663
02:26:55,280 --> 02:26:58,319
future so that we can get an update on

3664
02:26:58,319 --> 02:27:00,880
the status of construction of cell 7 so

3665
02:27:00,880 --> 02:27:02,240
that we don't have a problem in the

3666
02:27:02,240 --> 02:27:04,240
future. And it would also be very

3667
02:27:04,240 --> 02:27:05,920
interesting to know what the status is

3668
02:27:05,920 --> 02:27:08,160
of the next dredge uh project in the

3669
02:27:08,160 --> 02:27:10,479
Wcomo River. That's all. Let's eat.

3670
02:27:10,479 --> 02:27:13,920
Thanks, Mr. Goldberg.

3671
02:27:13,920 --> 02:27:17,040
>> Any other comments?

3672
02:27:17,040 --> 02:27:20,319
Seeing none, council comments.

3673
02:27:20,319 --> 02:27:22,640
>> I just want to say I'm happy that we

3674
02:27:22,640 --> 02:27:25,600
passed the emergency um legislation for

3675
02:27:25,600 --> 02:27:29,120
the nursing home. I also suggest I see

3676
02:27:29,120 --> 02:27:32,720
um Tracy here that um the concerns is

3677
02:27:32,720 --> 02:27:36,000
the facility itself. We have a building

3678
02:27:36,000 --> 02:27:39,920
inspector and also a code in uh

3679
02:27:39,920 --> 02:27:42,560
enforcement. I would suggest to save

3680
02:27:42,560 --> 02:27:46,319
money instead of hiring a outside force

3681
02:27:46,319 --> 02:27:50,560
for the staff that we have here to go

3682
02:27:50,560 --> 02:27:54,560
into the building and go piece by piece.

3683
02:27:54,560 --> 02:27:55,840
you're not going to be able to do it all

3684
02:27:55,840 --> 02:27:58,720
in one day, but to look at things that

3685
02:27:58,720 --> 02:28:02,560
have to be fixed,

3686
02:28:02,560 --> 02:28:06,560
um, roofing, heating, plumbing, holes in

3687
02:28:06,560 --> 02:28:09,520
the walls, whatever it is to bring that

3688
02:28:09,520 --> 02:28:12,080
and bring that before

3689
02:28:12,080 --> 02:28:14,240
a planning committee or commission, what

3690
02:28:14,240 --> 02:28:15,680
needs to be done so people can figure

3691
02:28:15,680 --> 02:28:18,399
out what it's going to cost to get these

3692
02:28:18,399 --> 02:28:21,439
things prepared. That's one suggestion.

3693
02:28:21,439 --> 02:28:24,479
And um I'm just happy to see that people

3694
02:28:24,479 --> 02:28:27,680
came out in the morning and we have the

3695
02:28:27,680 --> 02:28:30,720
work session with these folks and I hope

3696
02:28:30,720 --> 02:28:35,120
we can fix your concern hopefully. Um

3697
02:28:35,120 --> 02:28:37,680
but um I'm just glad to see everybody

3698
02:28:37,680 --> 02:28:40,080
and I'm happy with the outcome of the

3699
02:28:40,080 --> 02:28:46,389
legislation.

3700
02:28:46,399 --> 02:28:50,880
» Okay. Any other council comments?

3701
02:28:50,880 --> 02:28:53,280
I I did attend the Tri County Council

3702
02:28:53,280 --> 02:28:55,040
meeting that you referred to, Mr. White,

3703
02:28:55,040 --> 02:28:57,680
and uh Broadband did make a presentation

3704
02:28:57,680 --> 02:28:59,680
and I support that idea of having them

3705
02:28:59,680 --> 02:29:00,880
come here. I actually had thought about

3706
02:29:00,880 --> 02:29:03,600
that. You uh stole my thunder, but

3707
02:29:03,600 --> 02:29:05,280
they're doing some amazing work. I do

3708
02:29:05,280 --> 02:29:06,560
agree with your comments as far as

3709
02:29:06,560 --> 02:29:08,479
there's a lot of money. Uh I I believe

3710
02:29:08,479 --> 02:29:10,560
well, as you mentioned, I don't recall

3711
02:29:10,560 --> 02:29:12,960
the numbers. They are a nonprofit, I

3712
02:29:12,960 --> 02:29:15,040
think. Uh but there, you know, certainly

3713
02:29:15,040 --> 02:29:16,479
are some big projects that they're

3714
02:29:16,479 --> 02:29:17,840
planning and I think it would be very

3715
02:29:17,840 --> 02:29:19,439
worthwhile. I think they've got a great

3716
02:29:19,439 --> 02:29:23,280
story to tell. Um, not to belabor the

3717
02:29:23,280 --> 02:29:27,200
nursing home too much longer, but I I

3718
02:29:27,200 --> 02:29:29,600
took quite an exception to some of the

3719
02:29:29,600 --> 02:29:31,520
comments that were made last uh meeting

3720
02:29:31,520 --> 02:29:34,240
at the podium. Uh, comments like there

3721
02:29:34,240 --> 02:29:36,000
was no emergency at [clears throat] the

3722
02:29:36,000 --> 02:29:39,680
nursing home. Uh, statement there was

3723
02:29:39,680 --> 02:29:42,080
only four letters. I I you know, that

3724
02:29:42,080 --> 02:29:43,359
might have been a misstatement. You

3725
02:29:43,359 --> 02:29:45,600
know, that it doesn't matter what came

3726
02:29:45,600 --> 02:29:48,000
forth as a letter. There were some 94

3727
02:29:48,000 --> 02:29:50,000
correspondences

3728
02:29:50,000 --> 02:29:51,840
uh that uh that were shared with the

3729
02:29:51,840 --> 02:29:53,359
executives

3730
02:29:53,359 --> 02:29:56,880
um that there that the statement was

3731
02:29:56,880 --> 02:29:59,200
made that no effort uh to sit with the

3732
02:29:59,200 --> 02:30:01,600
administration on the council uh behalf

3733
02:30:01,600 --> 02:30:03,760
and the nursing home administrator to

3734
02:30:03,760 --> 02:30:06,720
evaluate uh available information and it

3735
02:30:06,720 --> 02:30:09,439
was mentioned earlier and I and I I I

3736
02:30:09,439 --> 02:30:11,840
don't think there has been any uh amount

3737
02:30:11,840 --> 02:30:14,880
of of effort made to come before the

3738
02:30:14,880 --> 02:30:16,880
council especially in light of some of

3739
02:30:16,880 --> 02:30:20,319
the recent most recent financial uh wos

3740
02:30:20,319 --> 02:30:22,800
that are that are being projected. Uh

3741
02:30:22,800 --> 02:30:25,200
you know this this administration has

3742
02:30:25,200 --> 02:30:27,200
been in in office like the rest of the

3743
02:30:27,200 --> 02:30:28,960
council except for myself for 3 years.

3744
02:30:28,960 --> 02:30:30,880
So I I [snorts] believe there should be

3745
02:30:30,880 --> 02:30:32,800
some oversight. It is Wcomoku County.

3746
02:30:32,800 --> 02:30:33,920
We're going to go back and look at the

3747
02:30:33,920 --> 02:30:36,479
entity and all that. But if if everyone

3748
02:30:36,479 --> 02:30:38,560
would indulge me, I we got a letter

3749
02:30:38,560 --> 02:30:41,120
yesterday which I think perfectly

3750
02:30:41,120 --> 02:30:44,800
describes the situation from a resident

3751
02:30:44,800 --> 02:30:48,000
uh a a son a son of a resident. And if

3752
02:30:48,000 --> 02:30:49,600
you will uh I won't read the whole

3753
02:30:49,600 --> 02:30:51,439
thing. I would like to put this enter

3754
02:30:51,439 --> 02:30:53,760
this as far as public comments. The

3755
02:30:53,760 --> 02:30:57,840
letter itself uh this is by Mr. Brooks.

3756
02:30:57,840 --> 02:30:59,520
Full transparency. I've known him since

3757
02:30:59,520 --> 02:31:01,439
he was a child. We haven't seen or

3758
02:31:01,439 --> 02:31:03,040
talked to each other for 40 years. So

3759
02:31:03,040 --> 02:31:04,880
this was unsolicited. This just came to

3760
02:31:04,880 --> 02:31:08,160
our email yesterday. Bear with me. Our

3761
02:31:08,160 --> 02:31:10,000
family is not new to this facility and

3762
02:31:10,000 --> 02:31:12,000
we are not occasional visitors. My

3763
02:31:12,000 --> 02:31:14,560
father is there every day. We personally

3764
02:31:14,560 --> 02:31:16,960
feed my mother and all her meals and I

3765
02:31:16,960 --> 02:31:20,000
spend substantial time there myself. I'm

3766
02:31:20,000 --> 02:31:22,000
not comparing Wcomo Nursing Home today

3767
02:31:22,000 --> 02:31:24,880
to an imaginary standard of perfection.

3768
02:31:24,880 --> 02:31:27,120
I com I am comparing it to the nursing

3769
02:31:27,120 --> 02:31:29,359
home our family has actually known for

3770
02:31:29,359 --> 02:31:31,200
more than 5 years. My mother lives

3771
02:31:31,200 --> 02:31:34,080
there. The decisions being made about

3772
02:31:34,080 --> 02:31:35,920
this facility ultimately reach her

3773
02:31:35,920 --> 02:31:39,760
bedside. The facility was never perfect,

3774
02:31:39,760 --> 02:31:41,200
but following the administrative

3775
02:31:41,200 --> 02:31:46,880
transition earlier this year, we be we began experiencing a concentration

3776
02:31:46,880 --> 02:31:49,359
uh of concerns distinctly different from

3777
02:31:49,359 --> 02:31:52,160
our prior prior experience.

3778
02:31:52,160 --> 02:31:54,560
Changes in the frequency of nature uh in

3779
02:31:54,560 --> 02:31:56,479
and nature of skin injuries, bruising.

3780
02:31:56,479 --> 02:31:59,280
We observed delays in personal and

3781
02:31:59,280 --> 02:32:02,960
incontinence uh care uh occasions when

3782
02:32:02,960 --> 02:32:04,880
my mother remained in bed for extended

3783
02:32:04,880 --> 02:32:07,439
periods, delays obtaining assistance,

3784
02:32:07,439 --> 02:32:09,680
and concerns about consistency and

3785
02:32:09,680 --> 02:32:12,000
continuity of care.

3786
02:32:12,000 --> 02:32:14,240
Uh he goes on to be equally clear that

3787
02:32:14,240 --> 02:32:17,520
this was not uh the reflection on the

3788
02:32:17,520 --> 02:32:20,160
employees that were providing firsthand

3789
02:32:20,160 --> 02:32:23,120
uh care. and I and he basically explains

3790
02:32:23,120 --> 02:32:25,120
that they're probably under quite a bit

3791
02:32:25,120 --> 02:32:28,479
of pressure because there's less staff.

3792
02:32:28,479 --> 02:32:30,880
We've experienced new leadership before.

3793
02:32:30,880 --> 02:32:32,800
When my mother entered Wcomako Nursing

3794
02:32:32,800 --> 02:32:34,640
Home more than 5 years ago, Patricia

3795
02:32:34,640 --> 02:32:37,840
Leon Tenture was herself relatively new

3796
02:32:37,840 --> 02:32:40,080
administrator. We did not witness this

3797
02:32:40,080 --> 02:32:42,399
level of employee departure, workplace

3798
02:32:42,399 --> 02:32:45,760
negativity, disruption or concern during

3799
02:32:45,760 --> 02:32:48,080
that transition.

3800
02:32:48,080 --> 02:32:50,880
Leadership presence matters too. Despite

3801
02:32:50,880 --> 02:32:52,640
the amount of time our family spends in

3802
02:32:52,640 --> 02:32:55,359
the facility, I rarely see the uh

3803
02:32:55,359 --> 02:32:57,520
administrator Fosski visibly engaging

3804
02:32:57,520 --> 02:32:59,439
with residents.

3805
02:32:59,439 --> 02:33:01,920
I recognize that an administrator has

3806
02:33:01,920 --> 02:33:03,359
private and administrative

3807
02:33:03,359 --> 02:33:05,840
responsibilities, but the working of the

3808
02:33:05,840 --> 02:33:08,240
Wakcomo nursing home is not simply a

3809
02:33:08,240 --> 02:33:10,560
business operation. It's a pe it's

3810
02:33:10,560 --> 02:33:13,200
people's home. I'm not asking the

3811
02:33:13,200 --> 02:33:15,040
council to accept every allegation as

3812
02:33:15,040 --> 02:33:16,880
fact, but when concerns about

3813
02:33:16,880 --> 02:33:18,399
leadership, communication, workplace

3814
02:33:18,399 --> 02:33:20,080
culture, turnover, and engagement come

3815
02:33:20,080 --> 02:33:22,080
from multiple directions, they deserve

3816
02:33:22,080 --> 02:33:24,319
independent examination. And equally,

3817
02:33:24,319 --> 02:33:26,640
I'm glad we passed this today. This is

3818
02:33:26,640 --> 02:33:30,319
why legislative bill 202611 matters. The

3819
02:33:30,319 --> 02:33:32,080
protection of vulnerable residents

3820
02:33:32,080 --> 02:33:33,920
should not depend entirely upon one

3821
02:33:33,920 --> 02:33:36,720
administrator, one county executive, one

3822
02:33:36,720 --> 02:33:38,479
nursing director, and or any other

3823
02:33:38,479 --> 02:33:41,280
individual. There must be transparency,

3824
02:33:41,280 --> 02:33:43,920
accountability, meaningful res uh

3825
02:33:43,920 --> 02:33:46,560
resident and family input, and somewhere

3826
02:33:46,560 --> 02:33:50,000
independent to turn when uh some someone

3827
02:33:50,000 --> 02:33:52,000
independent to turn to when serious

3828
02:33:52,000 --> 02:33:54,560
concerns arise. Oversight is not

3829
02:33:54,560 --> 02:33:56,880
punishment. Overset oversight is

3830
02:33:56,880 --> 02:33:58,720
protection.

3831
02:33:58,720 --> 02:34:02,160
Um and couple more, I'll be done.

3832
02:34:02,160 --> 02:34:04,319
Wakcomo nursing home exists because

3833
02:34:04,319 --> 02:34:07,040
Agatha Pulp refused to accept what

3834
02:34:07,040 --> 02:34:09,840
happened when her father needed care. He

3835
02:34:09,840 --> 02:34:11,600
was denied access to nursing home care

3836
02:34:11,600 --> 02:34:14,160
simply because of the color of his skin.

3837
02:34:14,160 --> 02:34:16,319
Decisions made by people with the power

3838
02:34:16,319 --> 02:34:18,880
to say no left a vulnerable man and his

3839
02:34:18,880 --> 02:34:21,760
family without somewhere to turn. Agath

3840
02:34:21,760 --> 02:34:25,760
Pope did something about it. Um,

3841
02:34:25,760 --> 02:34:28,240
and I'll just close with one more. Uh my

3842
02:34:28,240 --> 02:34:30,160
mother cannot stand before you and ask

3843
02:34:30,160 --> 02:34:32,960
to uh ask you to protect her. Many

3844
02:34:32,960 --> 02:34:34,880
residents of the Wakcomo nursing home

3845
02:34:34,880 --> 02:34:40,000
cannot speak for themselves either. I'm asking you to hear their voices

3846
02:34:40,000 --> 02:34:41,760
through those of us who not who cannot

3847
02:34:41,760 --> 02:34:43,760
speak for them. And when the future of

3848
02:34:43,760 --> 02:34:46,319
this legislation is before you, uh speak

3849
02:34:46,319 --> 02:34:49,120
for them through your actions. So, I

3850
02:34:49,120 --> 02:34:51,200
took the time to say that because I was

3851
02:34:51,200 --> 02:34:53,600
really uh

3852
02:34:53,600 --> 02:34:55,520
upset,

3853
02:34:55,520 --> 02:34:57,040
whatever, by some of the comments that

3854
02:34:57,040 --> 02:34:59,760
were made. And to totally dismiss what I

3855
02:34:59,760 --> 02:35:01,920
know, I I think I've got a fairly good

3856
02:35:01,920 --> 02:35:03,439
judgment and can hear is really

3857
02:35:03,439 --> 02:35:05,920
legitimate concerns. And to dismiss them

3858
02:35:05,920 --> 02:35:07,600
off-handedly,

3859
02:35:07,600 --> 02:35:10,319
I won't use Miss Shield's [laughter]

3860
02:35:10,319 --> 02:35:12,560
description of how it makes me feel, but

3861
02:35:12,560 --> 02:35:14,080
it makes me feel the same way. So,

3862
02:35:14,080 --> 02:35:15,600
anyway, thank you for Thank you for

3863
02:35:15,600 --> 02:35:18,800
indulging me that time. No, you did,

3864
02:35:18,800 --> 02:35:20,479
Jeff.

3865
02:35:20,479 --> 02:35:24,080
Um, I'm gonna pile on the nursing home

3866
02:35:24,080 --> 02:35:26,479
thing here. I appreciate y'all coming

3867
02:35:26,479 --> 02:35:29,040
out and, uh, everybody that's tuned in,

3868
02:35:29,040 --> 02:35:31,520
watching us. Uh, goes without saying

3869
02:35:31,520 --> 02:35:33,760
that the nursing home situation is where

3870
02:35:33,760 --> 02:35:35,920
a lot of our efforts

3871
02:35:35,920 --> 02:35:38,479
have been recently. I've met and spoken

3872
02:35:38,479 --> 02:35:42,479
with family members, employees, past,

3873
02:35:42,479 --> 02:35:46,160
present, retired, and terminated to

3874
02:35:46,160 --> 02:35:48,560
determine what the problems are exactly.

3875
02:35:48,560 --> 02:35:50,960
And more importantly, how do we get to a

3876
02:35:50,960 --> 02:35:52,800
solution?

3877
02:35:52,800 --> 02:35:54,399
We're getting mixed messaging and

3878
02:35:54,399 --> 02:35:56,720
conflicting information that is making

3879
02:35:56,720 --> 02:35:59,920
this process very difficult.

3880
02:35:59,920 --> 02:36:02,640
We have to separate fact from fiction

3881
02:36:02,640 --> 02:36:04,640
and hearsay.

3882
02:36:04,640 --> 02:36:08,319
If it's not down on paper, in print, in

3883
02:36:08,319 --> 02:36:11,359
a video, in some type of something that

3884
02:36:11,359 --> 02:36:14,000
will hold up in court, we can't rely on

3885
02:36:14,000 --> 02:36:15,760
it.

3886
02:36:15,760 --> 02:36:17,520
We've been told that the county has no

3887
02:36:17,520 --> 02:36:19,040
role in the operation of the nursing

3888
02:36:19,040 --> 02:36:20,960
home, yet we have two highlevel county

3889
02:36:20,960 --> 02:36:23,200
officials who spend a lot of time there

3890
02:36:23,200 --> 02:36:25,520
every week.

3891
02:36:25,520 --> 02:36:27,520
We understand at a recent staff meeting,

3892
02:36:27,520 --> 02:36:29,520
the conversation was very aggressive and

3893
02:36:29,520 --> 02:36:31,920
intimidating and at one point saying

3894
02:36:31,920 --> 02:36:34,319
that if the employees didn't back off,

3895
02:36:34,319 --> 02:36:35,760
the state was going to come in there

3896
02:36:35,760 --> 02:36:38,640
with a team of people with body cams and

3897
02:36:38,640 --> 02:36:45,030
guns and interview everybody.

3898
02:36:45,040 --> 02:36:46,240
We [clears throat] see the blame game

3899
02:36:46,240 --> 02:36:48,880
going on. It's easy to blame somebody

3900
02:36:48,880 --> 02:36:51,040
for something when they're not present

3901
02:36:51,040 --> 02:36:53,600
to share their side of the story.

3902
02:36:53,600 --> 02:36:55,200
We see the efforts being made to

3903
02:36:55,200 --> 02:36:56,640
discredit the work of the previous

3904
02:36:56,640 --> 02:36:59,760
nursing home administrator

3905
02:36:59,760 --> 02:37:02,160
who is never present to share her side

3906
02:37:02,160 --> 02:37:04,479
of the story and that is not right nor

3907
02:37:04,479 --> 02:37:06,800
is it fair.

3908
02:37:06,800 --> 02:37:10,000
Leading by intimidation is not leading,

3909
02:37:10,000 --> 02:37:13,359
it's ruling and the my way or highway

3910
02:37:13,359 --> 02:37:16,640
approach has never worked.

3911
02:37:16,640 --> 02:37:18,319
I should state that we have been advised

3912
02:37:18,319 --> 02:37:20,240
by legal counsel that when an employee

3913
02:37:20,240 --> 02:37:22,319
contacts us with a concern, we need to

3914
02:37:22,319 --> 02:37:24,800
advise them of the grievance policy in

3915
02:37:24,800 --> 02:37:27,040
the handbook about addressing their

3916
02:37:27,040 --> 02:37:30,720
concern with their supervisor.

3917
02:37:30,720 --> 02:37:32,880
Well, that's wonderful except when your

3918
02:37:32,880 --> 02:37:38,309
grievance is with your supervisor.

3919
02:37:38,319 --> 02:37:40,000
You should never be afraid to share your

3920
02:37:40,000 --> 02:37:41,920
concern or have it properly and

3921
02:37:41,920 --> 02:37:45,439
professionally addressed without fear of

3922
02:37:45,439 --> 02:37:48,160
retaliation or having a target put on

3923
02:37:48,160 --> 02:37:50,160
your back.

3924
02:37:50,160 --> 02:37:52,479
Let's look at the facts.

3925
02:37:52,479 --> 02:37:54,399
The nursing home is not a county

3926
02:37:54,399 --> 02:37:57,840
department or agency. Therefore, it is

3927
02:37:57,840 --> 02:38:00,560
not included in the charter.

3928
02:38:00,560 --> 02:38:03,520
So those that say that this legislation

3929
02:38:03,520 --> 02:38:06,160
violates the charter,

3930
02:38:06,160 --> 02:38:10,630
that shoots that argument down.

3931
02:38:10,640 --> 02:38:12,399
Since our last meeting, the resident

3932
02:38:12,399 --> 02:38:14,720
population is down.

3933
02:38:14,720 --> 02:38:16,720
Several more staff members have resigned

3934
02:38:16,720 --> 02:38:19,120
or turned in their resignation. I

3935
02:38:19,120 --> 02:38:22,560
believe we're up to 20 now since April

3936
02:38:22,560 --> 02:38:24,479
the 9th.

3937
02:38:24,479 --> 02:38:27,439
I've run several businesses in my life

3938
02:38:27,439 --> 02:38:29,280
and thankfully I was never faced with a

3939
02:38:29,280 --> 02:38:32,399
turnover rate like this. But if I was, I

3940
02:38:32,399 --> 02:38:34,880
would immediately assess the situation

3941
02:38:34,880 --> 02:38:37,680
and work towards a solution.

3942
02:38:37,680 --> 02:38:39,040
Definitely not the way it's being

3943
02:38:39,040 --> 02:38:41,760
handled right now. How can we get the

3944
02:38:41,760 --> 02:38:45,200
resident population up when we don't

3945
02:38:45,200 --> 02:38:47,520
have the employees to properly care for

3946
02:38:47,520 --> 02:38:50,399
those residents?

3947
02:38:50,399 --> 02:38:52,000
I've asked all the people that I've

3948
02:38:52,000 --> 02:38:55,920
spoken with the same questions.

3949
02:38:55,920 --> 02:38:58,640
The least concern that I've heard is I

3950
02:38:58,640 --> 02:39:01,280
left because of the money.

3951
02:39:01,280 --> 02:39:03,280
In every single conversation that I've

3952
02:39:03,280 --> 02:39:05,120
had, they all have one common

3953
02:39:05,120 --> 02:39:06,720
denominator.

3954
02:39:06,720 --> 02:39:09,359
Toxic work environment.

3955
02:39:09,359 --> 02:39:12,160
I've attended all the press conferences,

3956
02:39:12,160 --> 02:39:14,080
including the town hall at First Baptist

3957
02:39:14,080 --> 02:39:15,600
Church,

3958
02:39:15,600 --> 02:39:18,720
not to talk, but to listen, cuz I wanted

3959
02:39:18,720 --> 02:39:21,840
to hear what everybody had to say.

3960
02:39:21,840 --> 02:39:23,760
And when you have over 200 people show

3961
02:39:23,760 --> 02:39:25,920
up at a church for 2 and 1/2 hours on a

3962
02:39:25,920 --> 02:39:28,160
Monday night,

3963
02:39:28,160 --> 02:39:30,080
that's not a bunch of disgruntled

3964
02:39:30,080 --> 02:39:33,600
employees, as they've been called.

3965
02:39:33,600 --> 02:39:35,840
That is a group of people with concerns

3966
02:39:35,840 --> 02:39:38,720
that need to be addressed.

3967
02:39:38,720 --> 02:39:40,800
We need to fix this sooner than later.

3968
02:39:40,800 --> 02:39:43,200
My concern is for the residents, their

3969
02:39:43,200 --> 02:39:45,920
family members, and the employees. The

3970
02:39:45,920 --> 02:39:47,760
longer this goes on, the harder it will

3971
02:39:47,760 --> 02:39:50,000
be to find qualified employees to work

3972
02:39:50,000 --> 02:39:52,960
there. The family members are tired of

3973
02:39:52,960 --> 02:39:54,720
seeing the facility that their loved

3974
02:39:54,720 --> 02:39:58,960
ones reside in on the news every night

3975
02:39:58,960 --> 02:40:01,760
and in the newspaper. [snorts]

3976
02:40:01,760 --> 02:40:05,439
All this could have been solved early on

3977
02:40:05,439 --> 02:40:08,000
when these issues came to light.

3978
02:40:08,000 --> 02:40:10,880
with a simple conversation and sharing

3979
02:40:10,880 --> 02:40:13,040
of information.

3980
02:40:13,040 --> 02:40:14,880
When these issues arose, supposedly

3981
02:40:14,880 --> 02:40:16,720
after Miss Fosski was hired and became

3982
02:40:16,720 --> 02:40:19,200
aware of the situation, the executive

3983
02:40:19,200 --> 02:40:21,600
should have picked up the phone or sat

3984
02:40:21,600 --> 02:40:24,479
down at her computer and typed an email

3985
02:40:24,479 --> 02:40:26,720
or called the county or the council

3986
02:40:26,720 --> 02:40:29,439
president and requested a work session

3987
02:40:29,439 --> 02:40:31,520
or a conversation to get this process

3988
02:40:31,520 --> 02:40:32,880
started. That's right.

3989
02:40:32,880 --> 02:40:36,000
>> That never happened. Instead, as I said

3990
02:40:36,000 --> 02:40:38,560
before, we started hearing from family

3991
02:40:38,560 --> 02:40:41,120
members, employees,

3992
02:40:41,120 --> 02:40:43,040
past and present, about what's going on

3993
02:40:43,040 --> 02:40:44,800
over the nursing home. We had no idea

3994
02:40:44,800 --> 02:40:47,840
what was going on because once again,

3995
02:40:47,840 --> 02:40:50,080
we're in the dark.

3996
02:40:50,080 --> 02:40:52,640
We're in a need to know position and

3997
02:40:52,640 --> 02:40:55,200
apparently we didn't need to know until

3998
02:40:55,200 --> 02:40:57,840
not only the fire was lit,

3999
02:40:57,840 --> 02:41:00,960
but it was a three- alarm fire.

4000
02:41:00,960 --> 02:41:03,280
Other examples of this thing, this

4001
02:41:03,280 --> 02:41:05,920
situation in the past are removing two

4002
02:41:05,920 --> 02:41:08,000
recycling stations with no notice to the

4003
02:41:08,000 --> 02:41:10,880
council or to the public that still

4004
02:41:10,880 --> 02:41:13,280
exists today.

4005
02:41:13,280 --> 02:41:15,040
We all remember Safari at the quarry

4006
02:41:15,040 --> 02:41:17,920
where a motorized event was planned and

4007
02:41:17,920 --> 02:41:19,520
none of the residents at the adjoining

4008
02:41:19,520 --> 02:41:23,280
property was even contacted

4009
02:41:23,280 --> 02:41:26,399
for any concerns. Council found out

4010
02:41:26,399 --> 02:41:30,080
about that on social media.

4011
02:41:30,080 --> 02:41:31,439
Then there was a plan to close the

4012
02:41:31,439 --> 02:41:34,479
landfill last year. July 1st, they were

4013
02:41:34,479 --> 02:41:36,880
going to close the landfill on Saturdays

4014
02:41:36,880 --> 02:41:39,840
to preserve space in the landfill.

4015
02:41:39,840 --> 02:41:42,399
Council found out about that from a text

4016
02:41:42,399 --> 02:41:43,920
message from a hauler who was at a

4017
02:41:43,920 --> 02:41:46,399
haulers meeting saying, "Did you guys

4018
02:41:46,399 --> 02:41:51,120
know about this?" We did not.

4019
02:41:51,120 --> 02:41:52,960
All of these examples the council has

4020
02:41:52,960 --> 02:41:54,960
been in the dark

4021
02:41:54,960 --> 02:41:56,800
and we find out from the public or on

4022
02:41:56,800 --> 02:41:59,439
social media. This is not how to solve

4023
02:41:59,439 --> 02:42:02,720
the problems. This creates problems.

4024
02:42:02,720 --> 02:42:04,560
To solve a problem, we need to focus on

4025
02:42:04,560 --> 02:42:08,479
the solution and not on assigning blame.

4026
02:42:08,479 --> 02:42:10,640
This method has worked for me for

4027
02:42:10,640 --> 02:42:15,760
decades and in many life situations.

4028
02:42:15,760 --> 02:42:18,640
I thank you for your time and I'm always

4029
02:42:18,640 --> 02:42:21,040
ready to listen to your concerns. We

4030
02:42:21,040 --> 02:42:23,439
might not agree, but I will listen to

4031
02:42:23,439 --> 02:42:27,760
you, Mr. President. Thank you.

4032
02:42:27,760 --> 02:42:31,280
Um yeah, thanks everybody for um coming

4033
02:42:31,280 --> 02:42:34,319
today and watching on TV.

4034
02:42:34,319 --> 02:42:35,920
Um

4035
02:42:35,920 --> 02:42:38,960
I've left the nursing home issue without

4036
02:42:38,960 --> 02:42:42,160
saying a whole lot in the past few weeks

4037
02:42:42,160 --> 02:42:46,319
um to kind of let it shake out.

4038
02:42:46,319 --> 02:42:48,960
Today was um a good day as far as

4039
02:42:48,960 --> 02:42:51,280
passing this emergency legislation. I

4040
02:42:51,280 --> 02:42:54,550
feel

4041
02:42:54,560 --> 02:42:56,960
we'll see where it goes from there. This

4042
02:42:56,960 --> 02:42:59,600
council's only got a few more weeks and

4043
02:42:59,600 --> 02:43:02,640
um it'll be up to new council to take it

4044
02:43:02,640 --> 02:43:05,359
from there. And then I want to address

4045
02:43:05,359 --> 02:43:08,560
two other things today. Um one is the um

4046
02:43:08,560 --> 02:43:10,720
$10,000 for the Christmas lights and the

4047
02:43:10,720 --> 02:43:13,359
other one is the possibility of hiring a

4048
02:43:13,359 --> 02:43:19,349
new uh intern for the internal auditor.

4049
02:43:19,359 --> 02:43:21,120
I love Christmas lights and I don't want

4050
02:43:21,120 --> 02:43:25,680
to sound like the Scrooge here, but um

4051
02:43:25,680 --> 02:43:28,000
and I was going to vote against that and

4052
02:43:28,000 --> 02:43:29,920
then I decided listening to them talk

4053
02:43:29,920 --> 02:43:31,680
they would just take taking the money

4054
02:43:31,680 --> 02:43:33,760
from um

4055
02:43:33,760 --> 02:43:34,960
tourism. They could have done that

4056
02:43:34,960 --> 02:43:36,800
without even coming to the council.

4057
02:43:36,800 --> 02:43:40,080
Apparently my understanding is correct.

4058
02:43:40,080 --> 02:43:41,600
Um

4059
02:43:41,600 --> 02:43:43,279
but I want to go over some things. So,

4060
02:43:43,279 --> 02:43:45,359
we have in the audience today some folks

4061
02:43:45,359 --> 02:43:47,359
from a mobile home park on the west side

4062
02:43:47,359 --> 02:43:49,200
of the county that's upset about the

4063
02:43:49,200 --> 02:43:52,000
property taxes um that we're going to

4064
02:43:52,000 --> 02:43:54,560
work on after when we go into work

4065
02:43:54,560 --> 02:43:56,240
session.

4066
02:43:56,240 --> 02:43:58,240
Um

4067
02:43:58,240 --> 02:44:00,720
we got the nursing home again hanging

4068
02:44:00,720 --> 02:44:02,240
over our head. We don't know what that's

4069
02:44:02,240 --> 02:44:04,240
going to cost.

4070
02:44:04,240 --> 02:44:05,600
Believe me, it's going to be some cost

4071
02:44:05,600 --> 02:44:09,200
to it before it's over with.

4072
02:44:09,200 --> 02:44:11,600
We had the Verizon building

4073
02:44:11,600 --> 02:44:16,070
sitting there empty.

4074
02:44:16,080 --> 02:44:18,960
We had a fire service agreement

4075
02:44:18,960 --> 02:44:22,800
still hanging out there.

4076
02:44:22,800 --> 02:44:27,680
Cell 7 at the landfill. Dredge sparls.

4077
02:44:27,680 --> 02:44:29,279
I heard some screaming and yelling out

4078
02:44:29,279 --> 02:44:30,560
in the hallway a while ago. I don't know

4079
02:44:30,560 --> 02:44:32,880
what that was all about, but um go

4080
02:44:32,880 --> 02:44:35,120
security. There's nothing ever been done

4081
02:44:35,120 --> 02:44:38,870
about that yet.

4082
02:44:38,880 --> 02:44:40,479
That's just some of the issues that the

4083
02:44:40,479 --> 02:44:42,080
county has. Let's talk about personal

4084
02:44:42,080 --> 02:44:45,200
issues. Let's talk about gas prices,

4085
02:44:45,200 --> 02:44:47,680
diesel fuel prices,

4086
02:44:47,680 --> 02:44:53,590
price of your electric bill.

4087
02:44:53,600 --> 02:44:58,160
You know, all this adds up and we

4088
02:44:58,160 --> 02:44:59,920
it doesn't seem like government ever

4089
02:44:59,920 --> 02:45:04,800
cuts back and um on spending.

4090
02:45:04,800 --> 02:45:06,720
So,

4091
02:45:06,720 --> 02:45:08,800
there'll be a new council here and I

4092
02:45:08,800 --> 02:45:11,920
hope I hope maybe they're they'll be a

4093
02:45:11,920 --> 02:45:13,600
little more conservative and responsible

4094
02:45:13,600 --> 02:45:16,479
with u with the money

4095
02:45:16,479 --> 02:45:19,680
after the election. Thank you.

4096
02:45:19,680 --> 02:45:24,150
>> Thank you, Joe. Any other comments?

4097
02:45:24,160 --> 02:45:26,640
Seeing none council comments, um I would

4098
02:45:26,640 --> 02:45:28,640
like to thank the the public as a whole

4099
02:45:28,640 --> 02:45:30,880
and the community as a whole as well as

4100
02:45:30,880 --> 02:45:33,520
the council, uh Mr. Benson and Mrs.

4101
02:45:33,520 --> 02:45:36,160
Hurley uh for helping us work through

4102
02:45:36,160 --> 02:45:39,279
this minutia of topics and accusations

4103
02:45:39,279 --> 02:45:40,960
that we've been faced with over this

4104
02:45:40,960 --> 02:45:42,960
last month. Been doing this quite a

4105
02:45:42,960 --> 02:45:44,000
while and this is one of the most

4106
02:45:44,000 --> 02:45:45,680
contentious ones I think we've I've ever

4107
02:45:45,680 --> 02:45:47,840
had to face. But I think we have a

4108
02:45:47,840 --> 02:45:50,720
really really good bill and that goes

4109
02:45:50,720 --> 02:45:52,560
really that you have to attribute that

4110
02:45:52,560 --> 02:45:54,479
to the input that we received from the

4111
02:45:54,479 --> 02:45:56,880
community and again for what Mr. Benson

4112
02:45:56,880 --> 02:45:59,120
and Mrs. Hurley helped this council with

4113
02:45:59,120 --> 02:46:01,680
in trying to review every single detail.

4114
02:46:01,680 --> 02:46:03,359
We have tried to do this best we could

4115
02:46:03,359 --> 02:46:04,960
as quickly as possible and government

4116
02:46:04,960 --> 02:46:07,520
doesn't usually run act that that fast.

4117
02:46:07,520 --> 02:46:10,640
So I appreciate it. Um I always have to

4118
02:46:10,640 --> 02:46:13,200
smile when the comment quite a while ago

4119
02:46:13,200 --> 02:46:15,040
was made that this council only works

4120
02:46:15,040 --> 02:46:17,600
two days a month. That's all you have to

4121
02:46:17,600 --> 02:46:19,279
do. Two days a month and everything else

4122
02:46:19,279 --> 02:46:22,560
is free. This is about 30 hours a week

4123
02:46:22,560 --> 02:46:24,960
when you have stuff like this. Uh

4124
02:46:24,960 --> 02:46:28,479
constant phone calls. So anyway um

4125
02:46:28,479 --> 02:46:30,240
thanks to the community and we hope that

4126
02:46:30,240 --> 02:46:31,840
you like this bill. We think it'll be a

4127
02:46:31,840 --> 02:46:35,600
great bill and moving forward we'll we'll get it all back in order

4128
02:46:35,600 --> 02:46:38,000
like it's supposed to be. I have to read

4129
02:46:38,000 --> 02:46:40,720
a very complicated motion to adjourn and

4130
02:46:40,720 --> 02:46:42,640
it is complicated. So bear with me if

4131
02:46:42,640 --> 02:46:44,560
you don't mind. Like to make a motion to

4132
02:46:44,560 --> 02:46:46,479
adjourn to go into an open work session

4133
02:46:46,479 --> 02:46:48,399
followed by three closed work sessions

4134
02:46:48,399 --> 02:46:50,560
as follows. One to consult with legal

4135
02:46:50,560 --> 02:46:52,640
excuse me one which is a personnel

4136
02:46:52,640 --> 02:46:54,800
matter in reference to the director of

4137
02:46:54,800 --> 02:46:55,840
public works to protect the

4138
02:46:55,840 --> 02:46:58,240
confidentiality of the discussion. A

4139
02:46:58,240 --> 02:47:00,080
second to consult with legal counsel in

4140
02:47:00,080 --> 02:47:01,760
reference to the Hobbs Road property to

4141
02:47:01,760 --> 02:47:03,520
protect the county legal position. Then

4142
02:47:03,520 --> 02:47:05,439
to consult with legal counsel in

4143
02:47:05,439 --> 02:47:07,040
reference to the Porter Mill Road dev

4144
02:47:07,040 --> 02:47:09,600
tank to protect the uh uh the county's

4145
02:47:09,600 --> 02:47:12,080
legal position. Uh keeping in mind that

4146
02:47:12,080 --> 02:47:14,240
the council will be reconvening as well

4147
02:47:14,240 --> 02:47:16,240
with the urban services commission and

4148
02:47:16,240 --> 02:47:18,399
then in close session with the urban

4149
02:47:18,399 --> 02:47:20,240
services commission to consult with

4150
02:47:20,240 --> 02:47:22,960
legal uh and potential litigation.

4151
02:47:22,960 --> 02:47:25,840
That's a motion.

4152
02:47:25,840 --> 02:47:28,000
I'm sorry if you can just read the um

4153
02:47:28,000 --> 02:47:29,520
legal authority for those.

4154
02:47:29,520 --> 02:47:30,000
>> Thank you.

4155
02:47:30,000 --> 02:47:32,400
>> Yeah.

4156
02:47:32,400 --> 02:47:34,710
[laughter]

4157
02:47:34,720 --> 02:47:36,960
» Pursuant to section I'm pursuant to

4158
02:47:36,960 --> 02:47:40,240
section 3-305 B178

4159
02:47:40,240 --> 02:47:42,240
of the general provisions article of the

4160
02:47:42,240 --> 02:47:43,600
code of Maryland. I thought it done so

4161
02:47:43,600 --> 02:47:46,319
well. That's a motion there. Motion

4162
02:47:46,319 --> 02:47:49,120
second. All those in favor say I.

4163
02:47:49,120 --> 02:47:50,560
>> We are adjourned. As I said before,

4164
02:47:50,560 --> 02:47:52,319
we're going to take a half hour recess

4165
02:47:52,319 --> 02:47:53,600
if you don't mind. I know there are

4166
02:47:53,600 --> 02:47:55,439
several people here who have been very

4167
02:47:55,439 --> 02:48:07,830
patient and I appreciate that

4168
02:48:07,840 --> 02:48:10,080
» I think so. Yeah,

4169
02:48:10,080 --> 02:48:12,000
>> we're reconvening this comic county

4170
02:48:12,000 --> 02:48:15,120
legislative session 2026-9

4171
02:48:15,120 --> 02:48:18,080
for September 15th, 2026.

4172
02:48:18,080 --> 02:48:20,080
The uh first item on the open work

4173
02:48:20,080 --> 02:48:21,840
session is the mobile home park tax. I

4174
02:48:21,840 --> 02:48:23,279
believe we have a Mr. Michael Hawkins

4175
02:48:23,279 --> 02:48:26,399
here. Um, this is in reference to Wcom

4176
02:48:26,399 --> 02:48:30,870
County Code section 16914.

4177
02:48:30,880 --> 02:48:32,000
» Yes, sir. Thank you.

4178
02:48:32,000 --> 02:48:32,319
>> Mhm.

4179
02:48:32,319 --> 02:48:33,600
>> I'm not quite sure how this working

4180
02:48:33,600 --> 02:48:35,760
session works so together.

4181
02:48:35,760 --> 02:48:37,040
>> That's all right.

4182
02:48:37,040 --> 02:48:37,680
>> That's okay.

4183
02:48:37,680 --> 02:48:39,920
>> Yes, that' be perfect. You can just uh

4184
02:48:39,920 --> 02:48:41,600
for the public uh state your name and

4185
02:48:41,600 --> 02:48:43,920
your position so it all recorded.

4186
02:48:43,920 --> 02:48:46,950
Thanks.

4187
02:48:46,960 --> 02:48:48,800
» Hi, thanks for having me today. I am

4188
02:48:48,800 --> 02:48:51,760
Michael Hawkins. Uh my company recently

4189
02:48:51,760 --> 02:48:53,680
acquired Hebrron Woods. It's a

4190
02:48:53,680 --> 02:48:55,680
manufactured housing community uh in

4191
02:48:55,680 --> 02:48:59,279
Wakcomo County. Uh during my acquisition

4192
02:48:59,279 --> 02:49:01,439
due diligence, it came to my attention

4193
02:49:01,439 --> 02:49:04,080
that the prior owner of the community

4194
02:49:04,080 --> 02:49:06,479
was not paying the Wak Wakcomo County

4195
02:49:06,479 --> 02:49:09,680
mobile home tax in full became a central

4196
02:49:09,680 --> 02:49:12,319
issue of the deal and I was not willing

4197
02:49:12,319 --> 02:49:14,000
to close on the acquisition of the

4198
02:49:14,000 --> 02:49:17,920
community until this tax was solved.

4199
02:49:17,920 --> 02:49:19,920
As a result, I fa I became fully

4200
02:49:19,920 --> 02:49:21,840
immersed into the history of the mobile

4201
02:49:21,840 --> 02:49:24,160
home tax both with the state of Maryland

4202
02:49:24,160 --> 02:49:26,640
and with the county.

4203
02:49:26,640 --> 02:49:28,319
During my discussions, it was shared

4204
02:49:28,319 --> 02:49:29,920
with me that the mobile home tax is

4205
02:49:29,920 --> 02:49:32,800
similar to the gasoline tax. Individuals

4206
02:49:32,800 --> 02:49:34,800
go to the pump, they pay for the gas,

4207
02:49:34,800 --> 02:49:36,560
they don't realize there's a tax built

4208
02:49:36,560 --> 02:49:39,600
into this. The Wakamako County mobile

4209
02:49:39,600 --> 02:49:43,279
home tax has been around since 1978.

4210
02:49:43,279 --> 02:49:44,960
And to my knowledge, most of the

4211
02:49:44,960 --> 02:49:46,319
residents and some of the government

4212
02:49:46,319 --> 02:49:48,720
officials I spoke with weren't aware of

4213
02:49:48,720 --> 02:49:50,479
this tax.

4214
02:49:50,479 --> 02:49:52,560
But I'd say the only real similarity

4215
02:49:52,560 --> 02:49:55,359
between the mobile home tax and this

4216
02:49:55,359 --> 02:49:57,600
gasoline tax

4217
02:49:57,600 --> 02:50:00,880
is that people just weren't aware of it

4218
02:50:00,880 --> 02:50:03,840
and they didn't know it exist.

4219
02:50:03,840 --> 02:50:06,319
If I told you

4220
02:50:06,319 --> 02:50:09,200
that the gasoline tax only applied to

4221
02:50:09,200 --> 02:50:12,319
veterans, seniors, people on fixed

4222
02:50:12,319 --> 02:50:15,040
incomes, you come back to me and you'd

4223
02:50:15,040 --> 02:50:17,120
say

4224
02:50:17,120 --> 02:50:19,279
four words.

4225
02:50:19,279 --> 02:50:23,200
That's not fair. That is not fair. The

4226
02:50:23,200 --> 02:50:24,640
mobile home tax doesn't name those

4227
02:50:24,640 --> 02:50:27,200
groups directly, but applying this tax

4228
02:50:27,200 --> 02:50:29,040
only to the residents of a mobile home

4229
02:50:29,040 --> 02:50:30,640
community.

4230
02:50:30,640 --> 02:50:33,279
Effectively taxes and penalizes a

4231
02:50:33,279 --> 02:50:36,479
specific segment of the population.

4232
02:50:36,479 --> 02:50:38,319
The mobile home tax doesn't apply to an

4233
02:50:38,319 --> 02:50:41,439
apartment, single family home, condo

4234
02:50:41,439 --> 02:50:45,040
owner, town home resident, or a resident

4235
02:50:45,040 --> 02:50:47,200
of a gated community.

4236
02:50:47,200 --> 02:50:49,279
Only the mobile home residents pay this

4237
02:50:49,279 --> 02:50:53,279
tax. It's biased and it's against some

4238
02:50:53,279 --> 02:50:54,640
of the most vulnerable people in the

4239
02:50:54,640 --> 02:50:57,279
community. These residents are trying to

4240
02:50:57,279 --> 02:50:59,920
make ends meet. They're seniors, their

4241
02:50:59,920 --> 02:51:01,600
working families, their individuals with

4242
02:51:01,600 --> 02:51:04,160
limited financial resources,

4243
02:51:04,160 --> 02:51:06,240
and they rely on manufactured housing as

4244
02:51:06,240 --> 02:51:08,240
their primary

4245
02:51:08,240 --> 02:51:10,880
and sometimes only affordable option for

4246
02:51:10,880 --> 02:51:14,640
home ownership. A 15% tax on monthly

4247
02:51:14,640 --> 02:51:16,160
housing

4248
02:51:16,160 --> 02:51:18,399
is significant

4249
02:51:18,399 --> 02:51:20,160
and may force some of these residents to

4250
02:51:20,160 --> 02:51:22,080
choose between their housing costs and

4251
02:51:22,080 --> 02:51:24,080
other basics necessities, food,

4252
02:51:24,080 --> 02:51:26,560
medicine, and utilities.

4253
02:51:26,560 --> 02:51:29,359
Every day, the news cycle talks about

4254
02:51:29,359 --> 02:51:31,279
affordability. Housing affordability is

4255
02:51:31,279 --> 02:51:35,040
at a 30-year low based on some studies.

4256
02:51:35,040 --> 02:51:36,640
Manufactured housing communities are

4257
02:51:36,640 --> 02:51:40,240
almost always the most affordable option

4258
02:51:40,240 --> 02:51:42,479
for households that live below average

4259
02:51:42,479 --> 02:51:45,840
incomes. The 15% Wcomo mobile home tax

4260
02:51:45,840 --> 02:51:48,160
increases the home ownership cost and

4261
02:51:48,160 --> 02:51:50,479
makes housing less affordable for the

4262
02:51:50,479 --> 02:51:52,240
very residents that need the housing the

4263
02:51:52,240 --> 02:51:54,080
most.

4264
02:51:54,080 --> 02:51:56,560
One of my mentors taught me and he said,

4265
02:51:56,560 --> 02:51:58,960
"Always be careful using the f-word.

4266
02:51:58,960 --> 02:52:01,120
It's an emotional trigger, can derail a

4267
02:52:01,120 --> 02:52:02,800
discussion, and I've watched it happen

4268
02:52:02,800 --> 02:52:04,880
when politicians and business people

4269
02:52:04,880 --> 02:52:08,800
continually drop the f-bomb. So, I don't

4270
02:52:08,800 --> 02:52:10,880
use it lightly,

4271
02:52:10,880 --> 02:52:13,520
but I'll say it today. The Waccomo

4272
02:52:13,520 --> 02:52:17,359
mobile home tax is not fair. It truly

4273
02:52:17,359 --> 02:52:18,960
impacts some of the most vulnerable

4274
02:52:18,960 --> 02:52:22,319
residents of the county.

4275
02:52:22,319 --> 02:52:23,760
Finally, I want to acknowledge something

4276
02:52:23,760 --> 02:52:27,040
above my pay grade and um and and Mr.

4277
02:52:27,040 --> 02:52:30,720
Holloway addressed it. Uh I I know that

4278
02:52:30,720 --> 02:52:33,120
if there is a discussion around this

4279
02:52:33,120 --> 02:52:36,479
mobile home tax. Um there's going to be

4280
02:52:36,479 --> 02:52:39,040
a challenge to to solve the budget hole

4281
02:52:39,040 --> 02:52:42,790
that has been created

4282
02:52:42,800 --> 02:52:44,720
and there's a potential issue that needs

4283
02:52:44,720 --> 02:52:47,200
to be addressed. However, I don't think

4284
02:52:47,200 --> 02:52:48,880
this potential shortfall should be the

4285
02:52:48,880 --> 02:52:50,399
reason the county keeps the mobile home

4286
02:52:50,399 --> 02:52:52,800
tax. There's other revenue levers the

4287
02:52:52,800 --> 02:52:54,800
county can pull that are equitable and

4288
02:52:54,800 --> 02:52:56,880
don't focus on one specific segment of

4289
02:52:56,880 --> 02:52:59,920
the population such as this tax.

4290
02:52:59,920 --> 02:53:01,760
My agenda today is to provide a brief

4291
02:53:01,760 --> 02:53:04,240
history of the mobile home tax based on

4292
02:53:04,240 --> 02:53:06,160
my research into the state of Maryland

4293
02:53:06,160 --> 02:53:08,720
and Wcomo County to share information

4294
02:53:08,720 --> 02:53:10,240
how other counties have addressed this

4295
02:53:10,240 --> 02:53:12,960
within Maryland. Some have repealed it

4296
02:53:12,960 --> 02:53:14,560
and finally to highlight some key

4297
02:53:14,560 --> 02:53:17,200
questions and concerns that I've got for

4298
02:53:17,200 --> 02:53:20,000
the for the council to consider. Uh my

4299
02:53:20,000 --> 02:53:21,439
goal is for the council to gain a

4300
02:53:21,439 --> 02:53:22,880
greater understanding of the mobile home

4301
02:53:22,880 --> 02:53:24,640
tax

4302
02:53:24,640 --> 02:53:26,479
and hopefully conclude it's no longer

4303
02:53:26,479 --> 02:53:28,560
relevant and it's not equitable to the

4304
02:53:28,560 --> 02:53:30,560
residents of Wcomo Countyy's mobile home

4305
02:53:30,560 --> 02:53:32,080
communities.

4306
02:53:32,080 --> 02:53:34,000
>> Hey, Mr. Hawkins.

4307
02:53:34,000 --> 02:53:37,520
>> Joe, um you said that when you bought

4308
02:53:37,520 --> 02:53:42,080
the um mobile home park that um you

4309
02:53:42,080 --> 02:53:44,560
hadn't been paying the taxes,

4310
02:53:44,560 --> 02:53:45,040
>> correct?

4311
02:53:45,040 --> 02:53:45,600
>> Properly.

4312
02:53:45,600 --> 02:53:46,000
>> Correct.

4313
02:53:46,000 --> 02:53:48,080
>> How long had that gone on for? My

4314
02:53:48,080 --> 02:53:49,920
understanding was since he owned it, he

4315
02:53:49,920 --> 02:53:52,880
bought it in right around 2021, he was

4316
02:53:52,880 --> 02:53:55,680
paying $10,000 a quarter, so $40,000

4317
02:53:55,680 --> 02:53:56,479
annually.

4318
02:53:56,479 --> 02:53:56,880
>> Mhm.

4319
02:53:56,880 --> 02:54:00,880
>> Um based on the last year, the total tax

4320
02:54:00,880 --> 02:54:02,640
due in my estimation and what I expect

4321
02:54:02,640 --> 02:54:05,200
that I'll be paying is $120,000.

4322
02:54:05,200 --> 02:54:06,880
>> Was that that that far behind?

4323
02:54:06,880 --> 02:54:07,439
>> Correct.

4324
02:54:07,439 --> 02:54:10,800
>> Uh-huh. And then there was a settlement

4325
02:54:10,800 --> 02:54:14,000
with with the county that I saw the

4326
02:54:14,000 --> 02:54:15,760
documentation that the county approved

4327
02:54:15,760 --> 02:54:19,120
of his final payment of $341,000

4328
02:54:19,120 --> 02:54:20,960
to settle this tax liability.

4329
02:54:20,960 --> 02:54:22,880
>> So he settled that before you purchased

4330
02:54:22,880 --> 02:54:23,520
the property.

4331
02:54:23,520 --> 02:54:25,200
>> I would not close on it until this was

4332
02:54:25,200 --> 02:54:28,319
>> Uhhuh. That's right. So when you got it, was clear.

4333
02:54:28,319 --> 02:54:28,720
>> Correct.

4334
02:54:28,720 --> 02:54:29,840
>> And everything was clear.

4335
02:54:29,840 --> 02:54:30,399
>> Correct.

4336
02:54:30,399 --> 02:54:32,479
>> Okay. We don't, you know, we've got some

4337
02:54:32,479 --> 02:54:34,880
stuff here. Um,

4338
02:54:34,880 --> 02:54:36,319
we really do. Do you have anything from

4339
02:54:36,319 --> 02:54:38,800
the county executive's office about

4340
02:54:38,800 --> 02:54:40,560
mobile home park?

4341
02:54:40,560 --> 02:54:44,160
>> We actually um on your table is um some

4342
02:54:44,160 --> 02:54:46,240
information that was provided this

4343
02:54:46,240 --> 02:54:46,960
morning.

4344
02:54:46,960 --> 02:54:49,040
>> Oh, okay. All right.

4345
02:54:49,040 --> 02:54:51,359
>> Um but we we just got it this morning.

4346
02:54:51,359 --> 02:54:53,920
>> Okay. All right. When you get your tax

4347
02:54:53,920 --> 02:54:57,040
bill, um you made the comment that um

4348
02:54:57,040 --> 02:54:59,439
you thought it was unfair um because

4349
02:54:59,439 --> 02:55:02,319
this tax was applied to the residents of

4350
02:55:02,319 --> 02:55:04,720
the mobile homes.

4351
02:55:04,720 --> 02:55:06,560
I didn't think this tax was applied to

4352
02:55:06,560 --> 02:55:08,160
the residents of the mobile homes. I

4353
02:55:08,160 --> 02:55:09,840
thought this the law states that the

4354
02:55:09,840 --> 02:55:11,920
taxes applied to the owner of the mobile

4355
02:55:11,920 --> 02:55:14,960
home. Is that correct?

4356
02:55:14,960 --> 02:55:17,520
>> Based on my research, I mean, how about

4357
02:55:17,520 --> 02:55:20,160
your personal circumstances? Yes. So,

4358
02:55:20,160 --> 02:55:22,000
I'm responsible for paying the tax,

4359
02:55:22,000 --> 02:55:24,720
>> right? Okay. So, I have to collect the

4360
02:55:24,720 --> 02:55:29,359
tax and remit it. In essence, um the the

4361
02:55:29,359 --> 02:55:32,240
responsibility is 15% of gross charges.

4362
02:55:32,240 --> 02:55:35,040
There is a conversation if it's gross

4363
02:55:35,040 --> 02:55:39,040
charges collected or total gross charges

4364
02:55:39,040 --> 02:55:41,359
and then I am supposed to remit as the

4365
02:55:41,359 --> 02:55:44,720
owner of the community 13%

4366
02:55:44,720 --> 02:55:45,279
to the county.

4367
02:55:45,279 --> 02:55:47,920
>> It says total gross to total gross and I

4368
02:55:47,920 --> 02:55:49,439
thought that was complicated too because

4369
02:55:49,439 --> 02:55:50,880
then if you're going to go ahead and

4370
02:55:50,880 --> 02:55:54,240
bill your tenants the 15% without that

4371
02:55:54,240 --> 02:55:56,960
15% you're going to get taxed 15% on

4372
02:55:56,960 --> 02:55:59,120
that. uh which I thought was sort of a

4373
02:55:59,120 --> 02:56:01,760
convoluted way to even suggest it, but

4374
02:56:01,760 --> 02:56:03,920
um what what could you say when you

4375
02:56:03,920 --> 02:56:06,800
receive your property tax bill? Um do

4376
02:56:06,800 --> 02:56:10,880
you basically are you how is your tax um

4377
02:56:10,880 --> 02:56:13,600
calculated aside from the 15% when you

4378
02:56:13,600 --> 02:56:15,600
get your basic tax bill? Is it for land

4379
02:56:15,600 --> 02:56:17,520
only? Is it for land and improvements?

4380
02:56:17,520 --> 02:56:18,880
>> Land and improvements.

4381
02:56:18,880 --> 02:56:20,880
>> And and how do they calculate the

4382
02:56:20,880 --> 02:56:23,120
improvements? Do they take it from the

4383
02:56:23,120 --> 02:56:24,640
Cuz are you the owner of the mobile

4384
02:56:24,640 --> 02:56:27,439
homes as well? Yeah, the residents own

4385
02:56:27,439 --> 02:56:28,080
their own home.

4386
02:56:28,080 --> 02:56:29,840
>> So, what improvements do they do they

4387
02:56:29,840 --> 02:56:30,880
include?

4388
02:56:30,880 --> 02:56:32,960
>> So, we've got a maintenance shed, we've

4389
02:56:32,960 --> 02:56:35,120
got a private well, we've got a

4390
02:56:35,120 --> 02:56:36,720
wastewater treatment plant.

4391
02:56:36,720 --> 02:56:37,040
>> Okay.

4392
02:56:37,040 --> 02:56:38,640
>> We've got the roads. We've got the

4393
02:56:38,640 --> 02:56:40,080
infrastructure.

4394
02:56:40,080 --> 02:56:43,040
>> So, in essence, for me, the company, we

4395
02:56:43,040 --> 02:56:47,439
own the land. The residents pay us rent

4396
02:56:47,439 --> 02:56:49,920
each month for that land. They own their

4397
02:56:49,920 --> 02:56:50,960
own,

4398
02:56:50,960 --> 02:56:52,080
>> right?

4399
02:56:52,080 --> 02:56:56,080
um and in billing the tenants because I

4400
02:56:56,080 --> 02:56:58,640
wasn't aware that you could do that. I

4401
02:56:58,640 --> 02:57:01,040
wasn't aware that um because this is but

4402
02:57:01,040 --> 02:57:03,600
this is all new to us. So I wasn't aware

4403
02:57:03,600 --> 02:57:05,279
that you could actually issue an

4404
02:57:05,279 --> 02:57:07,520
independent bill for the taxes to the

4405
02:57:07,520 --> 02:57:10,160
individual tenants. That rent was rent

4406
02:57:10,160 --> 02:57:12,800
and that's what you were obligated to

4407
02:57:12,800 --> 02:57:15,439
charge your tenants to live there. I'm a

4408
02:57:15,439 --> 02:57:17,760
landlord as well and I don't send them a

4409
02:57:17,760 --> 02:57:19,200
separate bill for water. I don't send

4410
02:57:19,200 --> 02:57:22,000
them a separate bill uh for their gas or

4411
02:57:22,000 --> 02:57:24,240
their electric unless it's a multi-unit

4412
02:57:24,240 --> 02:57:27,279
complex. But when I charge someone rent,

4413
02:57:27,279 --> 02:57:29,439
I know I have to pay property taxes.

4414
02:57:29,439 --> 02:57:29,920
>> Mhm.

4415
02:57:29,920 --> 02:57:30,960
>> And I

4416
02:57:30,960 --> 02:57:32,319
>> I pay the property taxes

4417
02:57:32,319 --> 02:57:34,160
>> and I and I pay a lot of property taxes

4418
02:57:34,160 --> 02:57:36,960
and I I don't send any of my clients,

4419
02:57:36,960 --> 02:57:38,319
any of my tenants,

4420
02:57:38,319 --> 02:57:39,359
>> Yeah.

4421
02:57:39,359 --> 02:57:42,640
>> of a a bill for rent and then say,

4422
02:57:42,640 --> 02:57:44,080
"Okay, and here here are the property

4423
02:57:44,080 --> 02:57:45,279
taxes you're going to pay for me as

4424
02:57:45,279 --> 02:57:46,720
well." I just don't do that. So that's

4425
02:57:46,720 --> 02:57:50,399
why I had a bit of a aversion to that

4426
02:57:50,399 --> 02:57:53,359
>> and and obviously I mean my discussion

4427
02:57:53,359 --> 02:57:55,840
here is about this mobile home tax. I

4428
02:57:55,840 --> 02:57:58,560
acknowledge I'm responsible for it. I

4429
02:57:58,560 --> 02:57:59,920
wanted to highlight and when the

4430
02:57:59,920 --> 02:58:02,319
research that I did when the state of

4431
02:58:02,319 --> 02:58:05,200
Maryland after World War II, you know,

4432
02:58:05,200 --> 02:58:07,200
came to this mobile home tax to allow

4433
02:58:07,200 --> 02:58:09,279
the counties to charge this,

4434
02:58:09,279 --> 02:58:11,840
>> it was done because the residents were

4435
02:58:11,840 --> 02:58:16,240
not paying taxes on their home. So to

4436
02:58:16,240 --> 02:58:18,399
me, when I went back through this, this

4437
02:58:18,399 --> 02:58:20,399
is a resident's responsibility. I'm

4438
02:58:20,399 --> 02:58:22,240
supposed to collect it, but I wanted to

4439
02:58:22,240 --> 02:58:25,120
highlight obviously that this is a

4440
02:58:25,120 --> 02:58:27,279
separate tax that it's going to impact

4441
02:58:27,279 --> 02:58:29,200
the overall residence because it's and

4442
02:58:29,200 --> 02:58:31,279
it's going to limit my ability to do

4443
02:58:31,279 --> 02:58:33,279
improvements in the community, to hire

4444
02:58:33,279 --> 02:58:36,160
more staff, to do other things. But once

4445
02:58:36,160 --> 02:58:38,399
again, I understand that I am ultimately

4446
02:58:38,399 --> 02:58:41,120
responsible for this tax and I have

4447
02:58:41,120 --> 02:58:42,479
>> I don't see where it's a tax that you're

4448
02:58:42,479 --> 02:58:44,000
supposed to collect from your residents.

4449
02:58:44,000 --> 02:58:45,520
It's a tax that you're supposed to pay

4450
02:58:45,520 --> 02:58:49,670
as the owner.

4451
02:58:49,680 --> 02:58:51,359
And I always thought that possibly the

4452
02:58:51,359 --> 02:58:52,640
reason they did that, and I don't know,

4453
02:58:52,640 --> 02:58:54,000
we have we have to go through a little

4454
02:58:54,000 --> 02:58:55,600
few more miles to try to figure this

4455
02:58:55,600 --> 02:58:56,479
out.

4456
02:58:56,479 --> 02:58:58,160
>> Um, and and the council doesn't have any

4457
02:58:58,160 --> 02:59:00,800
aversion to to trying to re-evaluate our

4458
02:59:00,800 --> 02:59:03,040
taxes and our property taxes. This is a

4459
02:59:03,040 --> 02:59:04,960
relatively conservative council, so

4460
02:59:04,960 --> 02:59:06,560
we're not really tax friendly about

4461
02:59:06,560 --> 02:59:08,880
anything. Um, we don't, you know, we

4462
02:59:08,880 --> 02:59:12,080
have a um a revenue cap in Wcomu County.

4463
02:59:12,080 --> 02:59:13,600
been protecting that for 20 years

4464
02:59:13,600 --> 02:59:19,439
because we don't want to pass it on to the uh to the constituents. But um I

4465
02:59:19,439 --> 02:59:21,439
we're trying to figure out and I as I

4466
02:59:21,439 --> 02:59:22,880
say stated before there are certain

4467
02:59:22,880 --> 02:59:24,800
guidelines I think in place whether you

4468
02:59:24,800 --> 02:59:26,160
like the state of Maryland or not. I

4469
02:59:26,160 --> 02:59:28,240
think they kind of put some stipulations

4470
02:59:28,240 --> 02:59:32,000
in place more recently where um there

4471
02:59:32,000 --> 02:59:34,240
are limitations as to what a landlord

4472
02:59:34,240 --> 02:59:38,399
can apply as a rent to the homeowners.

4473
02:59:38,399 --> 02:59:39,760
And I'm just we're trying to sort

4474
02:59:39,760 --> 02:59:41,760
through that. Tracy, I know you're here.

4475
02:59:41,760 --> 02:59:42,640
I don't know if you're here for

4476
02:59:42,640 --> 02:59:44,640
specifically this, but I don't know if

4477
02:59:44,640 --> 02:59:46,960
you can help us with any clarification

4478
02:59:46,960 --> 02:59:50,790
on that.

4479
02:59:50,800 --> 02:59:52,399
Can I

4480
02:59:52,399 --> 02:59:54,880
>> Yeah, I guess one of the things that

4481
02:59:54,880 --> 02:59:57,680
made this fire up is when you started

4482
02:59:57,680 --> 03:00:01,200
charging this tax where all the other

4483
03:00:01,200 --> 03:00:04,240
mobile home parks are paying it also,

4484
03:00:04,240 --> 03:00:07,200
but they're assuming that payment within

4485
03:00:07,200 --> 03:00:10,479
their land rent. So, I mean that's

4486
03:00:10,479 --> 03:00:11,680
>> there there are certain other

4487
03:00:11,680 --> 03:00:13,439
communities that I'm aware of that are

4488
03:00:13,439 --> 03:00:15,920
doing it the way that I set it up.

4489
03:00:15,920 --> 03:00:16,800
>> Makamico,

4490
03:00:16,800 --> 03:00:19,920
>> correct? Um, and that's what I was

4491
03:00:19,920 --> 03:00:22,560
following. That's been you this is my

4492
03:00:22,560 --> 03:00:24,160
first community that I've owned in the

4493
03:00:24,160 --> 03:00:26,960
state of Maryland. And so when I did the

4494
03:00:26,960 --> 03:00:29,120
research and then once again I wanted to

4495
03:00:29,120 --> 03:00:32,319
highlight that this is not something

4496
03:00:32,319 --> 03:00:34,319
that I'm collecting. This is not

4497
03:00:34,319 --> 03:00:36,800
something that I am making any money off

4498
03:00:36,800 --> 03:00:39,920
of. Um, and that's the reason why I

4499
03:00:39,920 --> 03:00:43,520
broke it out separately. Um, now once

4500
03:00:43,520 --> 03:00:45,120
again,

4501
03:00:45,120 --> 03:00:48,720
I am responsible for it and and I know

4502
03:00:48,720 --> 03:00:52,080
that I have to pay it. That's the law.

4503
03:00:52,080 --> 03:00:54,080
Even I I can disagree with it or not

4504
03:00:54,080 --> 03:00:56,000
agree or what have you, but I know I've

4505
03:00:56,000 --> 03:00:57,680
got to pay it.

4506
03:00:57,680 --> 03:01:01,279
>> So, you you decided just because you

4507
03:01:01,279 --> 03:01:03,520
could, you separated it from your land

4508
03:01:03,520 --> 03:01:04,800
rent,

4509
03:01:04,800 --> 03:01:05,200
>> correct?

4510
03:01:05,200 --> 03:01:05,760
>> Yeah.

4511
03:01:05,760 --> 03:01:09,195
>> Correct. based on my research and my my

4512
03:01:09,195 --> 03:01:11,520
[snorts] discussions with other parties

4513
03:01:11,520 --> 03:01:14,800
that that was allowed to be done

4514
03:01:14,800 --> 03:01:18,080
with the understanding that then we

4515
03:01:18,080 --> 03:01:20,640
would have this conversation because to

4516
03:01:20,640 --> 03:01:23,840
me it didn't seem equitable based on a

4517
03:01:23,840 --> 03:01:26,800
mobile home community relative to other

4518
03:01:26,800 --> 03:01:30,000
places to live.

4519
03:01:30,000 --> 03:01:32,720
So if I if I buried it and didn't do it

4520
03:01:32,720 --> 03:01:34,000
then we wouldn't be having this

4521
03:01:34,000 --> 03:01:36,160
conversation. Once again, the prior

4522
03:01:36,160 --> 03:01:38,319
owner of this community, he wasn't

4523
03:01:38,319 --> 03:01:41,200
paying the full tax. And uh together, I

4524
03:01:41,200 --> 03:01:43,760
highlighted this. Um I want to make sure

4525
03:01:43,760 --> 03:01:45,439
that people are well aware of this is

4526
03:01:45,439 --> 03:01:46,240
happening because I think it

4527
03:01:46,240 --> 03:01:47,760
disenfranchises

4528
03:01:47,760 --> 03:01:50,880
an affordable place to live.

4529
03:01:50,880 --> 03:01:52,720
>> If you could let for the record just

4530
03:01:52,720 --> 03:01:54,640
>> Sure. Tracy Taylor, planning director,

4531
03:01:54,640 --> 03:01:57,680
Wakcomo County. Um I've spent a lot of

4532
03:01:57,680 --> 03:02:00,319
time reviewing chapter 169, which is the

4533
03:02:00,319 --> 03:02:03,040
mobile home park chapter. And you'll see

4534
03:02:03,040 --> 03:02:05,120
from my memorandum that I sort of

4535
03:02:05,120 --> 03:02:07,520
outlined the responsibilities within the

4536
03:02:07,520 --> 03:02:09,439
context of 169 for the various

4537
03:02:09,439 --> 03:02:12,000
departments in the county. In that

4538
03:02:12,000 --> 03:02:15,040
chapter, it defines the lency as the

4539
03:02:15,040 --> 03:02:17,200
person, firm or corporation that is

4540
03:02:17,200 --> 03:02:20,560
granted the license. So in that case, um

4541
03:02:20,560 --> 03:02:22,560
that would be Mr. Hawkins for in the

4542
03:02:22,560 --> 03:02:25,040
case of Hewood specifically. when we get

4543
03:02:25,040 --> 03:02:27,760
to chapter 160 or the section of chapter

4544
03:02:27,760 --> 03:02:30,720
169 which is 16914 where we talk about

4545
03:02:30,720 --> 03:02:32,880
the levy of this tax and we can talk a

4546
03:02:32,880 --> 03:02:34,160
little bit about the history of that if

4547
03:02:34,160 --> 03:02:37,920
you want um but it says every person

4548
03:02:37,920 --> 03:02:41,439
firm or corporation licensed to operate

4549
03:02:41,439 --> 03:02:43,439
and conduct a mobile home park or parks

4550
03:02:43,439 --> 03:02:46,720
in Wcomako County under existing laws or

4551
03:02:46,720 --> 03:02:48,800
regulations there are to pay a monthly

4552
03:02:48,800 --> 03:02:52,399
tax computed at 15% of the gross monthly

4553
03:02:52,399 --> 03:02:54,560
charges collected by the mobile home

4554
03:02:54,560 --> 03:02:57,439
So it's very clear in chapter 169 that

4555
03:02:57,439 --> 03:02:59,600
the intent of the tax would be paid by

4556
03:02:59,600 --> 03:03:02,800
the lency. What we see and we've done

4557
03:03:02,800 --> 03:03:05,040
our research too in the case of the 18

4558
03:03:05,040 --> 03:03:08,240
mobile home parks in Wcomakico County

4559
03:03:08,240 --> 03:03:11,600
historically that tax has been if they

4560
03:03:11,600 --> 03:03:13,439
factor that into whatever they charge

4561
03:03:13,439 --> 03:03:15,920
for lot rent they may do that and I

4562
03:03:15,920 --> 03:03:17,520
think Mr. Hawkins has conveyed that to

4563
03:03:17,520 --> 03:03:19,439
me in the case of one mobile home park

4564
03:03:19,439 --> 03:03:22,160
specifically when they charge the lot

4565
03:03:22,160 --> 03:03:25,279
rent that is the gross receipts for each

4566
03:03:25,279 --> 03:03:27,600
of the individual lots in the mobile

4567
03:03:27,600 --> 03:03:29,760
home park and then they are they

4568
03:03:29,760 --> 03:03:33,120
calculate from the lot rent the 15%

4569
03:03:33,120 --> 03:03:35,760
which it really isn't 15% paid to the

4570
03:03:35,760 --> 03:03:38,640
county because there's a 2% deducted for

4571
03:03:38,640 --> 03:03:40,479
an administrative fee for the collection

4572
03:03:40,479 --> 03:03:44,560
fee so actually they they remit 13% to

4573
03:03:44,560 --> 03:03:47,600
Wcomamico county. The mobile home parks

4574
03:03:47,600 --> 03:03:49,760
in this county have historically taken

4575
03:03:49,760 --> 03:03:51,760
that out of their profit, which is their

4576
03:03:51,760 --> 03:03:53,680
lot rent. It's been factored into the

4577
03:03:53,680 --> 03:03:55,600
lot rent. That's what the previous owner

4578
03:03:55,600 --> 03:03:57,600
had done. We can talk about, you know,

4579
03:03:57,600 --> 03:03:58,960
not paying the full amount later if

4580
03:03:58,960 --> 03:04:01,120
you'd like, but that's the process in

4581
03:04:01,120 --> 03:04:02,880
which it's been done. This is the first

4582
03:04:02,880 --> 03:04:06,160
case that we've seen where um an owner

4583
03:04:06,160 --> 03:04:08,880
has chosen to charge the 15% in addition

4584
03:04:08,880 --> 03:04:11,680
to the lot rent. And by doing that,

4585
03:04:11,680 --> 03:04:14,080
quite frankly, it's it really results in

4586
03:04:14,080 --> 03:04:16,880
a deacto lot rent increase because what

4587
03:04:16,880 --> 03:04:19,760
used to be, in the case of Hein Woods, a

4588
03:04:19,760 --> 03:04:22,640
lot rent payment and then the owner

4589
03:04:22,640 --> 03:04:25,200
would then pay the 13% out of that lot

4590
03:04:25,200 --> 03:04:27,520
rent has now turned into that same lot

4591
03:04:27,520 --> 03:04:30,560
rent payment and then an additional 15%

4592
03:04:30,560 --> 03:04:33,680
on top of that, which He Woods was

4593
03:04:33,680 --> 03:04:36,560
charged 15% on top of that. Even though

4594
03:04:36,560 --> 03:04:39,200
13% is really the amount, we did meet

4595
03:04:39,200 --> 03:04:41,840
with Mr. Hawkins and we did convey that

4596
03:04:41,840 --> 03:04:43,680
by charging that as a separate fee that

4597
03:04:43,680 --> 03:04:45,680
is a gross receipt again. So then that's

4598
03:04:45,680 --> 03:04:48,880
also subject to the 15%. Um in our

4599
03:04:48,880 --> 03:04:50,560
interpretation, but that's still being

4600
03:04:50,560 --> 03:04:52,479
debated. So I don't I won't say that

4601
03:04:52,479 --> 03:04:53,840
that's a definite because that's

4602
03:04:53,840 --> 03:04:55,279
something that the finance director

4603
03:04:55,279 --> 03:04:57,680
should speak to rather than me. Um

4604
03:04:57,680 --> 03:05:01,600
>> just to be clear, I I'm paying it's $84

4605
03:05:01,600 --> 03:05:05,040
of the lot rent on top of the 560. as an

4606
03:05:05,040 --> 03:05:09,439
example, I'm paying the 15% on 560 plus

4607
03:05:09,439 --> 03:05:12,240
84. There's no debate about that. So,

4608
03:05:12,240 --> 03:05:13,680
I'm not scraping anything. That

4609
03:05:13,680 --> 03:05:16,479
iterative calculation in essence, I'm

4610
03:05:16,479 --> 03:05:18,240
not getting the 2% because that's how

4611
03:05:18,240 --> 03:05:20,560
I'm calculating. So, just

4612
03:05:20,560 --> 03:05:24,240
>> so the 560 that was charged in Heinwoods

4613
03:05:24,240 --> 03:05:28,720
prior to this ownership, the 13% would

4614
03:05:28,720 --> 03:05:31,279
have been taken from the 560. Now the

4615
03:05:31,279 --> 03:05:33,920
owners are getting charged the 560 plus

4616
03:05:33,920 --> 03:05:36,080
the $84.

4617
03:05:36,080 --> 03:05:40,160
>> He was the prior owner was assuming that in the lot rent

4618
03:05:40,160 --> 03:05:41,520
>> and that's what we have in our other

4619
03:05:41,520 --> 03:05:43,680
mobile home parking as well. We're not

4620
03:05:43,680 --> 03:05:45,520
seeing anybody reporting it as a

4621
03:05:45,520 --> 03:05:47,920
separate line item charge. Well,

4622
03:05:47,920 --> 03:05:51,279
regardless of the charge, and you know,

4623
03:05:51,279 --> 03:05:52,960
they can charge, I guess, whatever they

4624
03:05:52,960 --> 03:05:56,160
want to within the law, but I think most

4625
03:05:56,160 --> 03:05:58,880
people, not everybody, but a lot of

4626
03:05:58,880 --> 03:06:01,520
people that move into a mobile home park

4627
03:06:01,520 --> 03:06:04,479
do it for two reasons. One is is

4628
03:06:04,479 --> 03:06:07,279
economics, right? And then the

4629
03:06:07,279 --> 03:06:10,000
simplicity. Okay, the simplicity is,

4630
03:06:10,000 --> 03:06:11,520
okay, I own this mobile home. I'm put it

4631
03:06:11,520 --> 03:06:12,800
in this park and I'm going to pay land

4632
03:06:12,800 --> 03:06:16,399
rent. I don't have to pay land rent. I

4633
03:06:16,399 --> 03:06:17,840
don't want to I don't have to pay that

4634
03:06:17,840 --> 03:06:21,200
plus taxes plus water plus So, you know,

4635
03:06:21,200 --> 03:06:23,760
I I think that's I think that's probably

4636
03:06:23,760 --> 03:06:25,680
one of the problems. You know, it's the

4637
03:06:25,680 --> 03:06:29,120
simplicity part of it that other than

4638
03:06:29,120 --> 03:06:31,120
the money. The money is a big part, but

4639
03:06:31,120 --> 03:06:33,279
people, you know, they they don't want

4640
03:06:33,279 --> 03:06:35,520
to get into the I guess you call it the

4641
03:06:35,520 --> 03:06:37,760
nuts and bolts of that's why they go

4642
03:06:37,760 --> 03:06:39,120
there. You know, it's like moving into

4643
03:06:39,120 --> 03:06:41,840
an assisted living place, you know, they

4644
03:06:41,840 --> 03:06:43,200
go there because everything's taken care

4645
03:06:43,200 --> 03:06:44,240
of. And so,

4646
03:06:44,240 --> 03:06:46,160
>> right. And I I will mention to the

4647
03:06:46,160 --> 03:06:48,479
council that this isn't the only um

4648
03:06:48,479 --> 03:06:49,840
situation that I'm dealing with right

4649
03:06:49,840 --> 03:06:51,279
now. We have at least one other mobile

4650
03:06:51,279 --> 03:06:54,160
home park that's been recently sold to

4651
03:06:54,160 --> 03:06:56,640
an LLC where they are considering now

4652
03:06:56,640 --> 03:06:59,920
charging the water as a separate rate to

4653
03:06:59,920 --> 03:07:03,520
the mobile home um lot renters. And

4654
03:07:03,520 --> 03:07:05,279
we're just seeing more and more of this

4655
03:07:05,279 --> 03:07:07,200
where these separate fees are being

4656
03:07:07,200 --> 03:07:12,160
proposed in addition to the lot rent. My greater fear is that what we've

4657
03:07:12,160 --> 03:07:13,840
considered, you know, with our mobile

4658
03:07:13,840 --> 03:07:15,760
home parks to be an affordable housing

4659
03:07:15,760 --> 03:07:17,920
option, especially for elderly and

4660
03:07:17,920 --> 03:07:20,960
handicapped and disabled, we are we're

4661
03:07:20,960 --> 03:07:22,479
seeing now that the lot rents it, they

4662
03:07:22,479 --> 03:07:24,880
could be, you know, outpriced from this

4663
03:07:24,880 --> 03:07:26,399
standard of living that they're used to.

4664
03:07:26,399 --> 03:07:28,160
So, that's my larger concern and that's

4665
03:07:28,160 --> 03:07:29,920
a separate concern from whether this tax

4666
03:07:29,920 --> 03:07:32,399
exists or not. And quite frankly,

4667
03:07:32,399 --> 03:07:34,240
there's nothing the county can do, my

4668
03:07:34,240 --> 03:07:35,760
department can do, as much as I'm

4669
03:07:35,760 --> 03:07:38,560
dismayed by it, to prevent it. We don't

4670
03:07:38,560 --> 03:07:40,399
have an we don't we don't have an

4671
03:07:40,399 --> 03:07:43,120
instrument to prevent like Mr. Hawkins

4672
03:07:43,120 --> 03:07:45,600
decides to charge it in this manner. We

4673
03:07:45,600 --> 03:07:47,439
don't have an instrument in place to

4674
03:07:47,439 --> 03:07:49,200
prevent that from happening other than

4675
03:07:49,200 --> 03:07:52,000
for me to talk to you about how it has

4676
03:07:52,000 --> 03:07:53,760
been historically charged and and what

4677
03:07:53,760 --> 03:07:56,800
situation we're dealing with now. If the

4678
03:07:56,800 --> 03:07:58,319
council were to decide, and you'll see

4679
03:07:58,319 --> 03:08:00,399
that in my memo, if the council were to

4680
03:08:00,399 --> 03:08:03,279
decide to reduce or eliminate the tax,

4681
03:08:03,279 --> 03:08:05,600
um that would certainly provide an

4682
03:08:05,600 --> 03:08:07,920
immediate relief. Um but then my bigger

4683
03:08:07,920 --> 03:08:09,680
fear is what we have in the way of lot

4684
03:08:09,680 --> 03:08:11,520
increases in general and mobile home

4685
03:08:11,520 --> 03:08:14,560
parks and in this county and I know

4686
03:08:14,560 --> 03:08:16,800
delegate um sample Hughes is concerned.

4687
03:08:16,800 --> 03:08:18,800
I think she's suggesting even putting in

4688
03:08:18,800 --> 03:08:21,279
legislation this session to address this

4689
03:08:21,279 --> 03:08:23,600
problem. We had a similar problem a few

4690
03:08:23,600 --> 03:08:25,120
years back, three or four years back

4691
03:08:25,120 --> 03:08:27,040
which uh

4692
03:08:27,040 --> 03:08:30,640
I worked with delicate sample Hughes

4693
03:08:30,640 --> 03:08:32,240
because there's that that huge problem

4694
03:08:32,240 --> 03:08:34,399
where a company came in from Florida and

4695
03:08:34,399 --> 03:08:35,920
then doubled and tripled the rental

4696
03:08:35,920 --> 03:08:38,880
amount. So, uh she became immediately

4697
03:08:38,880 --> 03:08:41,040
engaged in that community and did pass

4698
03:08:41,040 --> 03:08:42,460
legislation to the state of Maryland.

4699
03:08:42,460 --> 03:08:43,680
[clears throat] I thought that

4700
03:08:43,680 --> 03:08:46,080
legislation restricted rental increases

4701
03:08:46,080 --> 03:08:48,000
from new owners so that they could not

4702
03:08:48,000 --> 03:08:49,760
there was a limitation as to how much

4703
03:08:49,760 --> 03:08:51,200
they could increase their rent. Mhm.

4704
03:08:51,200 --> 03:08:52,720
>> Are you familiar with what those

4705
03:08:52,720 --> 03:08:56,080
>> It's um can't be more. Is it 10% 10% for

4706
03:08:56,080 --> 03:08:57,200
the first 3 years?

4707
03:08:57,200 --> 03:08:59,840
>> And and just to be clear, that's why I

4708
03:08:59,840 --> 03:09:01,040
broke it out.

4709
03:09:01,040 --> 03:09:03,279
>> Well, I would think so because I if if

4710
03:09:03,279 --> 03:09:05,680
you guys do this, you'll see the lot

4711
03:09:05,680 --> 03:09:08,319
rent for me stay at that number. It's

4712
03:09:08,319 --> 03:09:11,760
not It's not going that $84, it goes

4713
03:09:11,760 --> 03:09:13,279
away.

4714
03:09:13,279 --> 03:09:14,960
>> Well, and I understand. I mean, you

4715
03:09:14,960 --> 03:09:16,319
know, if you can only raise it. Did you

4716
03:09:16,319 --> 03:09:17,760
raise the 10%. I mean, you don't have to

4717
03:09:17,760 --> 03:09:19,680
tell me. Well, and and and that's

4718
03:09:19,680 --> 03:09:20,960
another discussion.

4719
03:09:20,960 --> 03:09:22,080
>> I'm not worried about that's I don't

4720
03:09:22,080 --> 03:09:23,520
need to get into the personal personal

4721
03:09:23,520 --> 03:09:24,399
issues of it,

4722
03:09:24,399 --> 03:09:25,920
>> but that's what it appears is if you

4723
03:09:25,920 --> 03:09:27,120
know instead of because there's the

4724
03:09:27,120 --> 03:09:28,880
restriction of the 10%. Well, let's not

4725
03:09:28,880 --> 03:09:30,640
call it rent anymore. Let's property

4726
03:09:30,640 --> 03:09:32,880
taxes. Exactly. And I don't know if that

4727
03:09:32,880 --> 03:09:35,200
could be um [clears throat]

4728
03:09:35,200 --> 03:09:37,439
circumventing this law. And and I don't

4729
03:09:37,439 --> 03:09:38,720
know legally because I'm not an

4730
03:09:38,720 --> 03:09:42,160
attorney. And I don't know if there's

4731
03:09:42,160 --> 03:09:44,960
any attorneys here. And and I apologize

4732
03:09:44,960 --> 03:09:47,040
because I don't think we've really asked

4733
03:09:47,040 --> 03:09:49,359
you to review this yet. But I think the

4734
03:09:49,359 --> 03:09:52,000
issue might be as to whether or not uh

4735
03:09:52,000 --> 03:09:53,359
when you're saying that you're charging

4736
03:09:53,359 --> 03:09:54,880
someone rent, then you can all of a

4737
03:09:54,880 --> 03:09:58,080
sudden add additional costs to those

4738
03:09:58,080 --> 03:09:59,359
individuals based on [clears throat] the

4739
03:09:59,359 --> 03:10:01,439
current statute. and we don't know that.

4740
03:10:01,439 --> 03:10:04,800
>> So, um I did reach out when this became,

4741
03:10:04,800 --> 03:10:08,080
you know, an issue. I did reach out to

4742
03:10:08,080 --> 03:10:10,319
DHCD, Department of Housing, Community

4743
03:10:10,319 --> 03:10:11,760
Development at the state to see if there

4744
03:10:11,760 --> 03:10:13,200
was any assistance they could provide.

4745
03:10:13,200 --> 03:10:15,040
Unfortunately, they could not. But I

4746
03:10:15,040 --> 03:10:17,120
also reached out to Shore Legal Access

4747
03:10:17,120 --> 03:10:19,840
because that does provide proono legal

4748
03:10:19,840 --> 03:10:22,000
services for it would have certainly

4749
03:10:22,000 --> 03:10:23,040
wouldn't have been the county, it would

4750
03:10:23,040 --> 03:10:25,200
have been the constituents. And I do

4751
03:10:25,200 --> 03:10:26,319
think and I don't want to speak for

4752
03:10:26,319 --> 03:10:27,920
them, but I do think there has been some

4753
03:10:27,920 --> 03:10:29,520
movement on the part of the constituents

4754
03:10:29,520 --> 03:10:32,000
to look into it. And I think one of the

4755
03:10:32,000 --> 03:10:33,680
things that shore legal access was

4756
03:10:33,680 --> 03:10:36,000
concerned with was the very situation

4757
03:10:36,000 --> 03:10:38,479
that you just described that this would

4758
03:10:38,479 --> 03:10:41,439
by charging in this way, it does be look

4759
03:10:41,439 --> 03:10:44,319
to appear like a de facto um lot

4760
03:10:44,319 --> 03:10:46,319
increase and they were going to look

4761
03:10:46,319 --> 03:10:49,200
into that. But I as planning director, I

4762
03:10:49,200 --> 03:10:52,319
could not go any further with this other

4763
03:10:52,319 --> 03:10:54,800
than to do that initial outreach because

4764
03:10:54,800 --> 03:10:57,120
I'm limited to what I have control over,

4765
03:10:57,120 --> 03:11:00,080
which is what's within this chapter. I

4766
03:11:00,080 --> 03:11:01,439
think you I think there's going to be a

4767
03:11:01,439 --> 03:11:02,640
hard time collecting in court,

4768
03:11:02,640 --> 03:11:04,240
especially with those new new attorneys,

4769
03:11:04,240 --> 03:11:07,279
and I won't express my disdain for those

4770
03:11:07,279 --> 03:11:10,000
attorneys in public, but I would tell

4771
03:11:10,000 --> 03:11:12,880
you that um they're going to say rent is

4772
03:11:12,880 --> 03:11:14,422
rent. This happens quite often

4773
03:11:14,422 --> 03:11:15,520
[clears throat] where a lot of times

4774
03:11:15,520 --> 03:11:17,120
when you go to landlord tenant court,

4775
03:11:17,120 --> 03:11:19,120
you of course incorporate the whatever

4776
03:11:19,120 --> 03:11:21,840
the water bills might be that in a case

4777
03:11:21,840 --> 03:11:23,840
that the tenant does owe water bills and

4778
03:11:23,840 --> 03:11:25,680
very seldom electric, but you try to

4779
03:11:25,680 --> 03:11:27,040
incorporate that in the total balance

4780
03:11:27,040 --> 03:11:29,279
due from the tenant that's owed. But the

4781
03:11:29,279 --> 03:11:31,279
courts will very quickly try to strip

4782
03:11:31,279 --> 03:11:32,960
you from that and say no, no, no, this

4783
03:11:32,960 --> 03:11:34,720
is landlord tenant. This we're only

4784
03:11:34,720 --> 03:11:36,960
going to allow a judgment on the rent

4785
03:11:36,960 --> 03:11:39,279
alone and the rest of it if it's going

4786
03:11:39,279 --> 03:11:40,960
to be separated out would have to be in

4787
03:11:40,960 --> 03:11:43,120
small claims court. That's that would be

4788
03:11:43,120 --> 03:11:46,880
a concern that I might have too

4789
03:11:46,880 --> 03:11:49,680
com maybe just recapping but you know

4790
03:11:49,680 --> 03:11:51,200
it's a matter of choice as to whether or

4791
03:11:51,200 --> 03:11:53,520
not uh as the owner as as to whether or

4792
03:11:53,520 --> 03:11:56,160
not you break it out or not. Uh you made

4793
03:11:56,160 --> 03:11:57,120
the choice and you were pretty

4794
03:11:57,120 --> 03:11:58,960
transparent as to the reason why because

4795
03:11:58,960 --> 03:12:01,840
effectively you've got an $84 or

4796
03:12:01,840 --> 03:12:03,680
whatever the percentage is increase. I

4797
03:12:03,680 --> 03:12:05,359
mean at the end of the day that's what's

4798
03:12:05,359 --> 03:12:07,680
happened. And by breaking it out, you

4799
03:12:07,680 --> 03:12:09,760
know, you you you you're you may be

4800
03:12:09,760 --> 03:12:10,960
staying, I don't know the laws well

4801
03:12:10,960 --> 03:12:13,279
enough, underneath of the threshold by

4802
03:12:13,279 --> 03:12:15,840
which you're allowed to increase. But

4803
03:12:15,840 --> 03:12:17,840
really, that's what we're talking about

4804
03:12:17,840 --> 03:12:21,200
is they just got net an increase.

4805
03:12:21,200 --> 03:12:22,800
And the [clears throat] the idea of

4806
03:12:22,800 --> 03:12:24,880
breaking it out or not is a choice that

4807
03:12:24,880 --> 03:12:27,279
you can make as the owner. But it but it

4808
03:12:27,279 --> 03:12:29,200
just it just you know segments it so

4809
03:12:29,200 --> 03:12:31,840
that um either the pressure comes down

4810
03:12:31,840 --> 03:12:34,160
on the county to do something about it

4811
03:12:34,160 --> 03:12:35,760
uh about the tax to begin with which is

4812
03:12:35,760 --> 03:12:38,880
another larger issue uh or it just keeps

4813
03:12:38,880 --> 03:12:40,960
you underneath a threshold by which you

4814
03:12:40,960 --> 03:12:43,920
would be called called to uh called on

4815
03:12:43,920 --> 03:12:45,520
that by by [clears throat] increasing

4816
03:12:45,520 --> 03:12:47,600
over the threshold. Is it does that have

4817
03:12:47,600 --> 03:12:48,800
I captured

4818
03:12:48,800 --> 03:12:49,279
>> you have

4819
03:12:49,279 --> 03:12:53,760
>> what's going on here properly? Yeah.

4820
03:12:53,760 --> 03:12:56,319
I guess the the role here could possibly

4821
03:12:56,319 --> 03:12:59,279
be and I don't know if it's our role but

4822
03:12:59,279 --> 03:13:01,200
uh I think um the only thing that's come

4823
03:13:01,200 --> 03:13:03,120
to light with this is that a lot of us

4824
03:13:03,120 --> 03:13:05,040
were going what is cuz I read that I

4825
03:13:05,040 --> 03:13:08,399
went 15% are you kidding me? Uh so but

4826
03:13:08,399 --> 03:13:10,080
we were having so much trouble finding

4827
03:13:10,080 --> 03:13:12,240
any documentation that even just has the

4828
03:13:12,240 --> 03:13:14,720
justification for why that 15% was

4829
03:13:14,720 --> 03:13:17,760
implemented. We have we've gone through

4830
03:13:17,760 --> 03:13:20,640
tons of stuff. We think some of it's

4831
03:13:20,640 --> 03:13:23,279
>> I might add typ the other way like we

4832
03:13:23,279 --> 03:13:25,200
own communities in other states.

4833
03:13:25,200 --> 03:13:25,920
>> Mhm.

4834
03:13:25,920 --> 03:13:28,080
>> Mobile homes are treated just like a

4835
03:13:28,080 --> 03:13:28,720
vehicle.

4836
03:13:28,720 --> 03:13:29,359
>> Mhm.

4837
03:13:29,359 --> 03:13:31,760
>> So the DMV collects a tax. Maryland

4838
03:13:31,760 --> 03:13:33,120
hasn't done it that way.

4839
03:13:33,120 --> 03:13:33,520
>> Mhm.

4840
03:13:33,520 --> 03:13:36,000
>> So Maryland was setting up this taxing

4841
03:13:36,000 --> 03:13:38,960
system so that I as the landlord pay a

4842
03:13:38,960 --> 03:13:41,760
property tax and there is a resident tax

4843
03:13:41,760 --> 03:13:45,359
paid on that home. Once again, my

4844
03:13:45,359 --> 03:13:47,680
interpretation, the way I look at this,

4845
03:13:47,680 --> 03:13:51,200
that is therefore a tax on the resident.

4846
03:13:51,200 --> 03:13:53,359
Like despite what's and and that's what

4847
03:13:53,359 --> 03:13:55,840
I wanted to highlight as part of this.

4848
03:13:55,840 --> 03:13:58,319
Um, but that's the way that I read

4849
03:13:58,319 --> 03:14:00,399
through the research. That was the

4850
03:14:00,399 --> 03:14:02,880
intent of what they were trying to do as

4851
03:14:02,880 --> 03:14:04,479
opposed to just doing it like the other

4852
03:14:04,479 --> 03:14:06,880
49 states and saying this is in essence

4853
03:14:06,880 --> 03:14:08,399
a vehicle and we're going to collect a

4854
03:14:08,399 --> 03:14:11,760
tax just like we do on on a car tax.

4855
03:14:11,760 --> 03:14:13,520
They only collect that one time when

4856
03:14:13,520 --> 03:14:15,359
it's sold.

4857
03:14:15,359 --> 03:14:17,200
Car tax is only collected. Car tax.

4858
03:14:17,200 --> 03:14:18,560
>> Oh, in Maryland that's the way. So in

4859
03:14:18,560 --> 03:14:20,319
Virginia, you have an ad valorum tax. So

4860
03:14:20,319 --> 03:14:22,160
I pay a tax on my car every year.

4861
03:14:22,160 --> 03:14:25,200
>> No. Okay. Now you buy you buy tags every

4862
03:14:25,200 --> 03:14:26,000
year, too. But

4863
03:14:26,000 --> 03:14:30,160
>> yeah. Yeah. So I have to pay it and and in Florida's the same way. Um so

4864
03:14:30,160 --> 03:14:31,920
that's how they're that's how the state

4865
03:14:31,920 --> 03:14:33,680
is getting to that tax of the home.

4866
03:14:33,680 --> 03:14:36,399
>> So yeah. Well, don't give Governor Moore

4867
03:14:36,399 --> 03:14:38,640
any ideas, [laughter]

4868
03:14:38,640 --> 03:14:39,200
you know.

4869
03:14:39,200 --> 03:14:40,160
>> Trust me.

4870
03:14:40,160 --> 03:14:42,399
>> Believe me. Anyway, um I I'm just

4871
03:14:42,399 --> 03:14:44,399
looking at the now this you're saying

4872
03:14:44,399 --> 03:14:46,399
it's $84 a month, correct?

4873
03:14:46,399 --> 03:14:48,800
>> Assuming a rent of $560, which is the

4874
03:14:48,800 --> 03:14:49,439
rent

4875
03:14:49,439 --> 03:14:50,960
>> for the majority of the residents at

4876
03:14:50,960 --> 03:14:54,399
Hebrron Wood. So, it's 15% of 560. $84.

4877
03:14:54,399 --> 03:14:56,960
>> I'm looking at I'm looking now we're

4878
03:14:56,960 --> 03:14:59,359
getting at from why you're doing this,

4879
03:14:59,359 --> 03:15:01,760
but I'm looking at these other counties

4880
03:15:01,760 --> 03:15:04,479
with mobile home tax. $15 a month in

4881
03:15:04,479 --> 03:15:07,520
Charles County. Dorchester 15 $15 a

4882
03:15:07,520 --> 03:15:09,120
month.

4883
03:15:09,120 --> 03:15:11,040
It's Georgia's $5 a month. I can't

4884
03:15:11,040 --> 03:15:12,640
believe anybody on that side that today

4885
03:15:12,640 --> 03:15:16,160
is cheaper than us. Um, and I guess

4886
03:15:16,160 --> 03:15:17,680
there's only one county that's higher

4887
03:15:17,680 --> 03:15:19,680
than us, and that's Cecil County.

4888
03:15:19,680 --> 03:15:22,399
>> Um, but they do,

4889
03:15:22,399 --> 03:15:23,680
um,

4890
03:15:23,680 --> 03:15:24,880
>> and Calbertt.

4891
03:15:24,880 --> 03:15:27,520
>> Calbertt's the one that was higher 20%.

4892
03:15:27,520 --> 03:15:30,960
>> Calbertt and Cecil.

4893
03:15:30,960 --> 03:15:32,960
>> Yeah, that's right. I'm sorry. Um, I've

4894
03:15:32,960 --> 03:15:36,560
got Cecil at $20 per month with a $36 a

4895
03:15:36,560 --> 03:15:37,200
year.

4896
03:15:37,200 --> 03:15:39,520
>> Oh, yeah. $20, not 20%. Right.

4897
03:15:39,520 --> 03:15:42,160
>> Yeah. So, it's only it's only um

4898
03:15:42,160 --> 03:15:44,160
>> Cal County that's higher than Wak. So, I

4899
03:15:44,160 --> 03:15:45,279
guess it's going to be up to this

4900
03:15:45,279 --> 03:15:48,960
council to decide what what avenue we

4901
03:15:48,960 --> 03:15:51,520
want to take if we take anything and

4902
03:15:51,520 --> 03:15:55,040
take any avenue to to reduce this

4903
03:15:55,040 --> 03:15:57,439
because

4904
03:15:57,439 --> 03:16:00,000
by this meeting and you know, I'm sure

4905
03:16:00,000 --> 03:16:03,040
other mobile home park owners are going

4906
03:16:03,040 --> 03:16:05,760
to be scratching their head about what

4907
03:16:05,760 --> 03:16:07,520
they're going to do in the future,

4908
03:16:07,520 --> 03:16:09,200
whether they can do what you're doing or

4909
03:16:09,200 --> 03:16:10,560
not. Apparently, what you're doing is

4910
03:16:10,560 --> 03:16:14,160
legal. Um,

4911
03:16:14,160 --> 03:16:15,840
so I guess it's going to be up to this

4912
03:16:15,840 --> 03:16:18,399
council or the next council to the

4913
03:16:18,399 --> 03:16:20,720
>> reality of it, we don't know. And I

4914
03:16:20,720 --> 03:16:23,120
think others, our role as a council, I

4915
03:16:23,120 --> 03:16:24,720
think, is going to be deciding what we

4916
03:16:24,720 --> 03:16:28,960
want to do with the 15%. The the issue

4917
03:16:28,960 --> 03:16:32,960
of how you uh apply it to your tenants.

4918
03:16:32,960 --> 03:16:34,319
that's going to be an issue between you

4919
03:16:34,319 --> 03:16:35,680
and the tenants and probably the state

4920
03:16:35,680 --> 03:16:37,920
of Maryland because we don't have any uh

4921
03:16:37,920 --> 03:16:39,840
we don't have any statute in Wanakico

4922
03:16:39,840 --> 03:16:41,600
County that dictates that you can do it

4923
03:16:41,600 --> 03:16:43,920
one way or the other. Uh if it exists,

4924
03:16:43,920 --> 03:16:46,080
that would be part of the state statute,

4925
03:16:46,080 --> 03:16:46,640
right?

4926
03:16:46,640 --> 03:16:48,960
>> Um that was passed a couple years ago.

4927
03:16:48,960 --> 03:16:51,359
So that's how that would probably break

4928
03:16:51,359 --> 03:16:55,120
out. And again, um, from what research

4929
03:16:55,120 --> 03:16:57,760
Stacy's done, I think legal and Stacy

4930
03:16:57,760 --> 03:17:00,239
would also have to go back into this and

4931
03:17:00,239 --> 03:17:02,080
find out exactly what the motivation

4932
03:17:02,080 --> 03:17:03,760
was. Again, I think it was really

4933
03:17:03,760 --> 03:17:06,800
because you pay um, you pay your land

4934
03:17:06,800 --> 03:17:10,479
tax. And you know when you when you pay

4935
03:17:10,479 --> 03:17:13,680
um any difference to that um such as for

4936
03:17:13,680 --> 03:17:15,760
your um wastewater treatment plant and

4937
03:17:15,760 --> 03:17:17,200
things like that as considered

4938
03:17:17,200 --> 03:17:19,600
improvements it still doesn't cover what

4939
03:17:19,600 --> 03:17:20,960
most government is worried about and

4940
03:17:20,960 --> 03:17:22,479
that is the services that need to be

4941
03:17:22,479 --> 03:17:23,920
applied to the people who are living in

4942
03:17:23,920 --> 03:17:25,840
that home and that was really the

4943
03:17:25,840 --> 03:17:29,040
purpose of the tax I believe. Um the and

4944
03:17:29,040 --> 03:17:31,279
I think that's where this 15% comes from

4945
03:17:31,279 --> 03:17:33,760
to offset that because the average home

4946
03:17:33,760 --> 03:17:35,120
you're going to pay the land and you pay

4947
03:17:35,120 --> 03:17:38,239
for the house done services accomplished

4948
03:17:38,239 --> 03:17:40,399
in your situation. No. Uh you're paying

4949
03:17:40,399 --> 03:17:43,760
for the land and you're paying for your improvements which is really just

4950
03:17:43,760 --> 03:17:45,520
your wastewater treatment plant but

4951
03:17:45,520 --> 03:17:47,279
nothing there to account for the actual

4952
03:17:47,279 --> 03:17:48,640
citizens. So they said okay we have to

4953
03:17:48,640 --> 03:17:50,560
do 15%.

4954
03:17:50,560 --> 03:17:53,520
Um, and with this restriction was put in

4955
03:17:53,520 --> 03:17:55,200
place a couple years ago, I think it

4956
03:17:55,200 --> 03:17:58,080
was, you know, the intent was to not to

4957
03:17:58,080 --> 03:18:00,160
continue to keep to create a burden on

4958
03:18:00,160 --> 03:18:02,479
the tenants. Uh, and and that when you

4959
03:18:02,479 --> 03:18:04,319
bought the ner the home, you had to you

4960
03:18:04,319 --> 03:18:06,399
had to recognize that and budget

4961
03:18:06,399 --> 03:18:07,279
accordingly.

4962
03:18:07,279 --> 03:18:10,560
>> The the restriction, my understanding,

4963
03:18:10,560 --> 03:18:13,040
um, was basically because there's some

4964
03:18:13,040 --> 03:18:14,880
bad actors in this industry. Let's be

4965
03:18:14,880 --> 03:18:17,439
really clear. Um, and they were coming

4966
03:18:17,439 --> 03:18:19,120
in aggressively. sounds like it might

4967
03:18:19,120 --> 03:18:20,319
have happened in your county from

4968
03:18:20,319 --> 03:18:23,520
outside owners and really taking

4969
03:18:23,520 --> 03:18:25,439
advantage of the ability to to drive

4970
03:18:25,439 --> 03:18:28,800
rents by doubling them in some cases. So

4971
03:18:28,800 --> 03:18:30,720
this was put forward so that when you

4972
03:18:30,720 --> 03:18:33,520
buy a community I am limited by

4973
03:18:33,520 --> 03:18:36,560
increasing rents by 10% for 3 years and

4974
03:18:36,560 --> 03:18:40,950
that's that's the reason why it was done

4975
03:18:40,960 --> 03:18:42,399
» and separate whether there's any part of

4976
03:18:42,399 --> 03:18:44,399
that that statute that that actually

4977
03:18:44,399 --> 03:18:46,479
more clearly defined what rent was going

4978
03:18:46,479 --> 03:18:48,319
to be. I have no idea. I don't I don't

4979
03:18:48,319 --> 03:18:48,720
either.

4980
03:18:48,720 --> 03:18:49,439
>> Yeah. Right.

4981
03:18:49,439 --> 03:18:51,840
>> I guess we need to really know [snorts]

4982
03:18:51,840 --> 03:18:55,120
if if this tax is fair or not because

4983
03:18:55,120 --> 03:18:58,880
and I don't know how we would take one

4984
03:18:58,880 --> 03:19:02,319
lot out of your out of your um mobile

4985
03:19:02,319 --> 03:19:06,560
home park. One lot with one mobile home

4986
03:19:06,560 --> 03:19:15,040
on it double wide and compare that with the property taxes on that one lot.

4987
03:19:15,040 --> 03:19:16,560
I don't know how we would come to that.

4988
03:19:16,560 --> 03:19:18,000
You'd have to divide that, I guess, by

4989
03:19:18,000 --> 03:19:19,520
the amount of property taxes you're

4990
03:19:19,520 --> 03:19:23,200
paying by the number of lots you have

4991
03:19:23,200 --> 03:19:27,510
and the value of that mobile home

4992
03:19:27,520 --> 03:19:32,080
because you're up around $1,000 a year,

4993
03:19:32,080 --> 03:19:34,479
right, for each okay

4994
03:19:34,479 --> 03:19:37,910
>> and then

4995
03:19:37,920 --> 03:19:40,000
on top of that, you got this this land

4996
03:19:40,000 --> 03:19:43,760
rent, which I would say a mo a double

4997
03:19:43,760 --> 03:19:46,479
wide like that on just a lot in Wakam O

4998
03:19:46,479 --> 03:19:48,880
county.

4999
03:19:48,880 --> 03:19:50,880
I would think if we looked at the tax

5000
03:19:50,880 --> 03:19:52,479
records, you would find that that's

5001
03:19:52,479 --> 03:19:54,960
probably about what the property taxes

5002
03:19:54,960 --> 03:19:57,200
is on that

5003
03:19:57,200 --> 03:20:00,560
piece of property. Okay. And I'm not an

5004
03:20:00,560 --> 03:20:02,000
expert of that. That they would know

5005
03:20:02,000 --> 03:20:03,600
more about that in the next building up,

5006
03:20:03,600 --> 03:20:05,439
the brick, big brick building up the

5007
03:20:05,439 --> 03:20:08,479
road here. But just seeing what other

5008
03:20:08,479 --> 03:20:10,640
people's property taxes, I would suppose

5009
03:20:10,640 --> 03:20:13,359
that just a building lot with a double

5010
03:20:13,359 --> 03:20:15,600
wide on it, the property taxes might be

5011
03:20:15,600 --> 03:20:18,640
about $1,000 a year, maybe 1,200, you

5012
03:20:18,640 --> 03:20:20,319
know.

5013
03:20:20,319 --> 03:20:23,040
So,

5014
03:20:23,040 --> 03:20:25,200
is this 15%?

5015
03:20:25,200 --> 03:20:25,840
Yes.

5016
03:20:25,840 --> 03:20:27,600
>> You know, it sounds to me like it's a

5017
03:20:27,600 --> 03:20:32,000
pretty die on high assessment to me.

5018
03:20:32,000 --> 03:20:35,439
Really does. Um because then they're

5019
03:20:35,439 --> 03:20:37,359
paying that property tax then they're

5020
03:20:37,359 --> 03:20:38,640
paying the land rent which they don't

5021
03:20:38,640 --> 03:20:40,080
own the land. You're furnishing water

5022
03:20:40,080 --> 03:20:41,680
and sewer and all and I understand all

5023
03:20:41,680 --> 03:20:45,040
that's worth that worth worth I suppose

5024
03:20:45,040 --> 03:20:48,239
it is. So I think we need to be able to

5025
03:20:48,239 --> 03:20:53,120
compare that some kind of way and then look at this 15%

5026
03:20:53,120 --> 03:20:55,520
>> and say really a fair tax or not.

5027
03:20:55,520 --> 03:20:56,960
>> Yeah. I don't know off the top of my

5028
03:20:56,960 --> 03:20:59,120
head. I obviously haven't been

5029
03:20:59,120 --> 03:21:01,520
reassessed for the acquisition of Hein.

5030
03:21:01,520 --> 03:21:04,560
Um, but I can do the property taxes. I

5031
03:21:04,560 --> 03:21:08,399
can separate it. So, it's 125 lots. 124

5032
03:21:08,399 --> 03:21:10,880
are rent paying at at the community.

5033
03:21:10,880 --> 03:21:12,720
>> Um, if you assume a,000 and then I can

5034
03:21:12,720 --> 03:21:14,560
divide that based on the the amount of

5035
03:21:14,560 --> 03:21:16,080
property taxes that I'm paying because

5036
03:21:16,080 --> 03:21:19,680
I'm getting assessed on the value of the community I just bought. And I

5037
03:21:19,680 --> 03:21:21,200
believe they do a cash flow analysis

5038
03:21:21,200 --> 03:21:23,600
here in Maryland as well. Um, so they're

5039
03:21:23,600 --> 03:21:25,279
taking into the account of what I'm

5040
03:21:25,279 --> 03:21:28,239
collecting. That to me is double

5041
03:21:28,239 --> 03:21:30,160
dipping. Um, but that's just my

5042
03:21:30,160 --> 03:21:32,720
interpretation of it.

5043
03:21:32,720 --> 03:21:34,640
>> Joe, uh, I was going to go down the same

5044
03:21:34,640 --> 03:21:36,720
path Joe went, but I want to take it a

5045
03:21:36,720 --> 03:21:40,080
step further. A,8,08

5046
03:21:40,080 --> 03:21:43,760
is 84* 12. So if you, somebody correct

5047
03:21:43,760 --> 03:21:45,760
me if my math is not correct. We're

5048
03:21:45,760 --> 03:21:49,760
80ent. So if you divide that, 108 by

5049
03:21:49,760 --> 03:21:51,359
0.008,

5050
03:21:51,359 --> 03:21:54,080
you get $126,000.

5051
03:21:54,080 --> 03:21:56,080
I I'm not Somebody checked my math. I'm

5052
03:21:56,080 --> 03:21:58,479
not sure if that's right. So I I going

5053
03:21:58,479 --> 03:22:00,399
down that same path. Somebody smarter

5054
03:22:00,399 --> 03:22:02,720
than me can do this to evaluate, you

5055
03:22:02,720 --> 03:22:04,880
know, what is fair and how how

5056
03:22:04,880 --> 03:22:07,520
equitable, how even is it to property

5057
03:22:07,520 --> 03:22:10,399
tax. At the end of the day, you know,

5058
03:22:10,399 --> 03:22:11,840
it's I think the intent, we don't know

5059
03:22:11,840 --> 03:22:13,600
what it was, but it was cover county

5060
03:22:13,600 --> 03:22:15,760
services. And I did clearly hear the

5061
03:22:15,760 --> 03:22:17,840
group say that they're they may not be

5062
03:22:17,840 --> 03:22:20,720
enjoying as many services as other folks

5063
03:22:20,720 --> 03:22:22,800
in the county. So all that being rolled

5064
03:22:22,800 --> 03:22:24,880
up into some kind of a evaluation of

5065
03:22:24,880 --> 03:22:27,120
fairness I think is where we where we

5066
03:22:27,120 --> 03:22:27,920
need to go.

5067
03:22:27,920 --> 03:22:30,000
>> He he's paying property taxes on that

5068
03:22:30,000 --> 03:22:30,560
lot also.

5069
03:22:30,560 --> 03:22:32,399
>> I I heard that too. Yeah, I heard that

5070
03:22:32,399 --> 03:22:33,920
too. So that kind of goes

5071
03:22:33,920 --> 03:22:37,520
>> another $200 on that per lot or $500 on

5072
03:22:37,520 --> 03:22:39,359
that lot or a thousand, you know.

5073
03:22:39,359 --> 03:22:41,439
>> No, that's a that is a a good point that

5074
03:22:41,439 --> 03:22:45,120
needs to be considered, you know. Um so

5075
03:22:45,120 --> 03:22:47,200
>> yeah, depends on what the how it's

5076
03:22:47,200 --> 03:22:48,399
assessed. Go ahead.

5077
03:22:48,399 --> 03:22:49,439
>> Just just one quick question. just

5078
03:22:49,439 --> 03:22:50,800
trying to get an understanding also of

5079
03:22:50,800 --> 03:22:52,319
uh you know traditionally you look at

5080
03:22:52,319 --> 03:22:54,319
okay if it's a home does it is it own

5081
03:22:54,319 --> 03:22:57,600
well and septic you know is it uh um

5082
03:22:57,600 --> 03:22:59,520
who's taking care of the the other

5083
03:22:59,520 --> 03:23:00,640
amenities or other things to go along

5084
03:23:00,640 --> 03:23:02,399
with this I guess in this situation to

5085
03:23:02,399 --> 03:23:04,479
hear you say you have a package plant

5086
03:23:04,479 --> 03:23:06,160
water plant water treatment plant for

5087
03:23:06,160 --> 03:23:06,319
this

5088
03:23:06,319 --> 03:23:08,080
>> I I take care of the septic the waste

5089
03:23:08,080 --> 03:23:10,239
water the water uh and then the the

5090
03:23:10,239 --> 03:23:11,120
drinking water

5091
03:23:11,120 --> 03:23:13,120
>> and the drinking water is that just

5092
03:23:13,120 --> 03:23:15,439
>> well they're each one private wells for

5093
03:23:15,439 --> 03:23:18,399
each lot right

5094
03:23:18,399 --> 03:23:21,120
one central one central well that that I

5095
03:23:21,120 --> 03:23:22,399
have to service

5096
03:23:22,399 --> 03:23:26,080
>> I have tested daily um it's expensive

5097
03:23:26,080 --> 03:23:28,479
but that's all included in the lot rent

5098
03:23:28,479 --> 03:23:30,080
for the residents at this community

5099
03:23:30,080 --> 03:23:31,680
>> and then to uh I guess paving of the

5100
03:23:31,680 --> 03:23:33,200
roads that's done by the county

5101
03:23:33,200 --> 03:23:34,960
>> n

5102
03:23:34,960 --> 03:23:37,920
what about pipes any any infrastructure

5103
03:23:37,920 --> 03:23:39,359
when you walk into that community I'm

5104
03:23:39,359 --> 03:23:40,000
responsible

5105
03:23:40,000 --> 03:23:43,680
>> do you have uh um um are there in most

5106
03:23:43,680 --> 03:23:45,680
of our I don't maybe in this one here

5107
03:23:45,680 --> 03:23:48,880
but are there in most of our um you know

5108
03:23:48,880 --> 03:23:50,640
mobile home parks are there other

5109
03:23:50,640 --> 03:23:53,279
infrastructure like the um you know fire

5110
03:23:53,279 --> 03:23:55,200
suppression or anything like that like

5111
03:23:55,200 --> 03:23:57,040
uh the city

5112
03:23:57,040 --> 03:23:59,680
or their t or their trash pickup is that

5113
03:23:59,680 --> 03:24:00,000
uh

5114
03:24:00,000 --> 03:24:04,469
>> I cover the trash as well

5115
03:24:04,479 --> 03:24:07,120
and there's no uh just um there's no

5116
03:24:07,120 --> 03:24:09,040
fire hydrants right there

5117
03:24:09,040 --> 03:24:12,000
>> um there are fire hydrants I believe yes

5118
03:24:12,000 --> 03:24:14,720
there has to be so then um that so the

5119
03:24:14,720 --> 03:24:17,279
911 service I have to have make sure

5120
03:24:17,279 --> 03:24:19,439
every home is marked for 911 to come

5121
03:24:19,439 --> 03:24:21,760
through. So yeah, the fire and and

5122
03:24:21,760 --> 03:24:24,080
obviously the police and and the first

5123
03:24:24,080 --> 03:24:25,680
responders like that will come into the

5124
03:24:25,680 --> 03:24:27,680
community if necessary. And and this is

5125
03:24:27,680 --> 03:24:30,239
not in Hebrron officially

5126
03:24:30,239 --> 03:24:31,439
and there's not most of these I'm

5127
03:24:31,439 --> 03:24:33,760
looking at are where the the map of all

5128
03:24:33,760 --> 03:24:36,399
of the u you know I think there's only

5129
03:24:36,399 --> 03:24:39,920
one single one that's in a municipality.

5130
03:24:39,920 --> 03:24:41,680
>> This one is not in a municipality. So

5131
03:24:41,680 --> 03:24:45,520
there's a counties paying for the fire

5132
03:24:45,520 --> 03:24:48,239
and emergency services.

5133
03:24:48,239 --> 03:24:50,560
>> I would allow um

5134
03:24:50,560 --> 03:24:52,640
>> it's unprecedented, but as a point of

5135
03:24:52,640 --> 03:24:54,399
clarification without getting into any

5136
03:24:54,399 --> 03:24:56,000
type of attacks, I would allow you to

5137
03:24:56,000 --> 03:24:57,200
speak if you'd like to come to the

5138
03:24:57,200 --> 03:24:59,840
podium and make a comment. Um the idea

5139
03:24:59,840 --> 03:25:01,920
is for some type of clarification is not

5140
03:25:01,920 --> 03:25:04,399
to attack Mr. Hawkins and or anything

5141
03:25:04,399 --> 03:25:05,279
like that.

5142
03:25:05,279 --> 03:25:07,359
The only clarification I have is we paid

5143
03:25:07,359 --> 03:25:11,920
560 a month and that included the tax.

5144
03:25:11,920 --> 03:25:14,319
So when Mr. Hawkins took over or when

5145
03:25:14,319 --> 03:25:17,600
real um Clear Trail took over, they did

5146
03:25:17,600 --> 03:25:19,760
not deduct the 84 that we had been

5147
03:25:19,760 --> 03:25:23,600
paying that was included, they added it.

5148
03:25:23,600 --> 03:25:26,000
So, if we were if that tax was included

5149
03:25:26,000 --> 03:25:28,160
in the 560

5150
03:25:28,160 --> 03:25:31,120
and then he does the 560 and then adds

5151
03:25:31,120 --> 03:25:35,279
the other 15%, he tax on the um $84 that

5152
03:25:35,279 --> 03:25:38,880
was already previously included, he is

5153
03:25:38,880 --> 03:25:40,880
benefiting, it's double dipping because

5154
03:25:40,880 --> 03:25:44,080
if you if he says that um he shouldn't,

5155
03:25:44,080 --> 03:25:45,680
you know, that he's got to pay it and we

5156
03:25:45,680 --> 03:25:48,399
did. We were and it was by our lease

5157
03:25:48,399 --> 03:25:49,840
that we had up through the end of the

5158
03:25:49,840 --> 03:25:51,760
year that included all our como county

5159
03:25:51,760 --> 03:25:53,359
taxes

5160
03:25:53,359 --> 03:25:55,279
and Tracy knows that cuz she's got

5161
03:25:55,279 --> 03:25:59,680
copies. So he kept the 84 in the 560 and

5162
03:25:59,680 --> 03:26:02,720
then tacked on 84 and he's putting it

5163
03:26:02,720 --> 03:26:04,960
down as rent. It isn't rent. It is a

5164
03:26:04,960 --> 03:26:09,120
gross income tax which we can't

5165
03:26:09,120 --> 03:26:13,120
ourselves be able to control whatever

5166
03:26:13,120 --> 03:26:14,880
like the new people moving into the

5167
03:26:14,880 --> 03:26:17,760
park. They're charging $650

5168
03:26:17,760 --> 03:26:21,040
plus $97 tax.

5169
03:26:21,040 --> 03:26:23,359
>> So, but what I'm saying is if he was

5170
03:26:23,359 --> 03:26:26,239
going to if we had to pay the tax, we

5171
03:26:26,239 --> 03:26:28,479
were paying 560 with their lease that

5172
03:26:28,479 --> 03:26:30,479
included and our lease stated and he

5173
03:26:30,479 --> 03:26:32,319
filled out the affidavit accepting

5174
03:26:32,319 --> 03:26:34,800
everything the way it was, then the 84

5175
03:26:34,800 --> 03:26:37,279
should have been deducted off. And

5176
03:26:37,279 --> 03:26:39,120
again, that will be, as I stated before,

5177
03:26:39,120 --> 03:26:40,560
I think that's going to be an issue that

5178
03:26:40,560 --> 03:26:41,840
you're going to have to direct

5179
03:26:41,840 --> 03:26:43,520
immediately with, or not immediately,

5180
03:26:43,520 --> 03:26:44,720
but you're going to have to direct

5181
03:26:44,720 --> 03:26:48,399
towards Mr. Hawkins based on a legal

5182
03:26:48,399 --> 03:26:50,560
statute from the state of Maryland

5183
03:26:50,560 --> 03:26:52,000
because this is nothing that's been

5184
03:26:52,000 --> 03:26:55,600
implemented by WCOM County as far as how

5185
03:26:55,600 --> 03:26:58,399
Mr. Hawkins may bill you. We just simply

5186
03:26:58,399 --> 03:27:00,319
send the bill to Mr. Hawkins.

5187
03:27:00,319 --> 03:27:02,800
>> So, he can double bill. Well, again,

5188
03:27:02,800 --> 03:27:04,399
that's what I said that you may need

5189
03:27:04,399 --> 03:27:07,279
legal representation to challenge that.

5190
03:27:07,279 --> 03:27:09,279
It's nothing that there's no part of a

5191
03:27:09,279 --> 03:27:11,680
county ordinance that might uh define

5192
03:27:11,680 --> 03:27:14,560
one way or the other the breakdown of

5193
03:27:14,560 --> 03:27:16,479
the costs that you're are now having to

5194
03:27:16,479 --> 03:27:17,040
incur.

5195
03:27:17,040 --> 03:27:18,800
>> So, even the law that you wrote in the

5196
03:27:18,800 --> 03:27:25,200
48 years ago, I'm 74 and you can check back, but a lot of times the uh

5197
03:27:25,200 --> 03:27:27,200
Wcomo County did not want a whole lot of

5198
03:27:27,200 --> 03:27:29,120
mobile home parks. And if you'll notice,

5199
03:27:29,120 --> 03:27:31,600
Salsbury mobile home park is way far out

5200
03:27:31,600 --> 03:27:33,840
compared years ago. Then the mall wasn't

5201
03:27:33,840 --> 03:27:35,840
there and all that wasn't there.

5202
03:27:35,840 --> 03:27:38,640
>> So they then, which I did some research

5203
03:27:38,640 --> 03:27:42,160
also, included this 15% tax. Now

5204
03:27:42,160 --> 03:27:44,960
Worcester and Somerset pay nothing. They

5205
03:27:44,960 --> 03:27:46,720
did they did not do that. They felt the

5206
03:27:46,720 --> 03:27:48,239
money and revenue that they got back

5207
03:27:48,239 --> 03:27:51,920
from income tax, um, property tax, and

5208
03:27:51,920 --> 03:27:53,920
their personal property tax was enough

5209
03:27:53,920 --> 03:27:58,000
to cover what their stuff is. So that

5210
03:27:58,000 --> 03:28:01,520
being said, they implemented this tax

5211
03:28:01,520 --> 03:28:03,520
hoping that it also would not raise the

5212
03:28:03,520 --> 03:28:06,319
rents on the people because back then,

5213
03:28:06,319 --> 03:28:09,439
well, like 28 years ago, she paid 195.

5214
03:28:09,439 --> 03:28:11,279
But years ago when they did this, cuz

5215
03:28:11,279 --> 03:28:12,880
they did not like the parks. And if

5216
03:28:12,880 --> 03:28:14,319
you'll notice, the parks are kind of

5217
03:28:14,319 --> 03:28:16,479
scattered out from years ago,

5218
03:28:16,479 --> 03:28:16,880
>> right,

5219
03:28:16,880 --> 03:28:20,640
>> of what Central Salsbury was and county.

5220
03:28:20,640 --> 03:28:21,840
And they definitely didn't want anything

5221
03:28:21,840 --> 03:28:24,000
on Route 50. So that's why we have the

5222
03:28:24,000 --> 03:28:26,239
mounds. Mr. bridge had to put mounds and

5223
03:28:26,239 --> 03:28:27,359
everything that you could not see the

5224
03:28:27,359 --> 03:28:29,520
mobile homes. But that's why it started

5225
03:28:29,520 --> 03:28:31,760
and it was to keep the rents down, but

5226
03:28:31,760 --> 03:28:33,840
yet it helped compensate some for the

5227
03:28:33,840 --> 03:28:36,560
people. But now that rents are 560 or

5228
03:28:36,560 --> 03:28:38,800
600 a month, you're looking at 15%.

5229
03:28:38,800 --> 03:28:40,160
These people that have worked their

5230
03:28:40,160 --> 03:28:42,960
whole life and made minimum wage,

5231
03:28:42,960 --> 03:28:45,600
they're lucky if they've got 13 $1,400 a

5232
03:28:45,600 --> 03:28:47,840
month in social security and you're

5233
03:28:47,840 --> 03:28:49,680
telling and affordable housing, but the

5234
03:28:49,680 --> 03:28:50,960
countyy's telling me there's nothing

5235
03:28:50,960 --> 03:28:52,640
they can do to help. Well, we understand

5236
03:28:52,640 --> 03:28:55,279
that, but keep one thing to to try to

5237
03:28:55,279 --> 03:28:56,560
>> tax is 15%.

5238
03:28:56,560 --> 03:28:58,720
>> To try to I get that, but to try to to

5239
03:28:58,720 --> 03:29:00,720
understand the perspective too. If we

5240
03:29:00,720 --> 03:29:02,720
were to pass legislation tomorrow that

5241
03:29:02,720 --> 03:29:05,840
eliminated the 15% tax, right? There are

5242
03:29:05,840 --> 03:29:08,000
many there are many homes there are many

5243
03:29:08,000 --> 03:29:10,720
mobile home parks right now where the

5244
03:29:10,720 --> 03:29:12,560
tenants would never even benefit from

5245
03:29:12,560 --> 03:29:13,200
that,

5246
03:29:13,200 --> 03:29:13,680
>> right?

5247
03:29:13,680 --> 03:29:16,479
>> Because this is the tax to the owner.

5248
03:29:16,479 --> 03:29:18,239
Your problem is how your owner is

5249
03:29:18,239 --> 03:29:20,239
implementing the tax and passing that on

5250
03:29:20,239 --> 03:29:21,520
to you.

5251
03:29:21,520 --> 03:29:23,200
>> But even your law saying you have to be

5252
03:29:23,200 --> 03:29:25,040
licensed. We're not a licensed park

5253
03:29:25,040 --> 03:29:26,080
owner.

5254
03:29:26,080 --> 03:29:32,399
>> I however that breaks down, that's again that's the legal realm. I'm

5255
03:29:32,399 --> 03:29:33,680
just trying to share with you the fact

5256
03:29:33,680 --> 03:29:35,760
that the council certainly will look

5257
03:29:35,760 --> 03:29:38,160
into the 15%

5258
03:29:38,160 --> 03:29:40,080
uh simply based on whether or not it's a

5259
03:29:40,080 --> 03:29:43,439
fair uh a fair tax overall.

5260
03:29:43,439 --> 03:29:45,279
How it gets implemented and how it gets

5261
03:29:45,279 --> 03:29:47,600
possibly passed on to the individual

5262
03:29:47,600 --> 03:29:50,080
tenants, that's an individual that's a

5263
03:29:50,080 --> 03:29:51,600
that's an issue between the actual

5264
03:29:51,600 --> 03:29:55,600
tenants and the owner. It really is. I

5265
03:29:55,600 --> 03:29:57,600
hate to tell you that, but again, we

5266
03:29:57,600 --> 03:30:00,080
could cut it tomorrow. We could cut it

5267
03:30:00,080 --> 03:30:02,160
tomorrow. Of course, you'd be you you'd

5268
03:30:02,160 --> 03:30:04,319
still be paying the old 84 included in

5269
03:30:04,319 --> 03:30:06,399
your rent, right?

5270
03:30:06,399 --> 03:30:08,000
>> In other words, if we pass it, if we get

5271
03:30:08,000 --> 03:30:10,560
rid of tax, your tax your your rent may

5272
03:30:10,560 --> 03:30:12,000
go down.

5273
03:30:12,000 --> 03:30:14,000
>> Well, but it's gone up and didn't go

5274
03:30:14,000 --> 03:30:15,359
down when it

5275
03:30:15,359 --> 03:30:17,200
>> Yeah. Well, that's the way it's being

5276
03:30:17,200 --> 03:30:18,080
implemented. But if we [clears throat]

5277
03:30:18,080 --> 03:30:20,720
try to look at at this from a a

5278
03:30:20,720 --> 03:30:24,800
countywide perspective, uh the the 15%

5279
03:30:24,800 --> 03:30:28,080
that we might remove, I would say the

5280
03:30:28,080 --> 03:30:29,680
majority of the uh the tenants

5281
03:30:29,680 --> 03:30:31,439
throughout Wcom County would never be

5282
03:30:31,439 --> 03:30:34,080
impacted by it whatsoever. So, it's

5283
03:30:34,080 --> 03:30:36,560
really something we're trying to uh to

5284
03:30:36,560 --> 03:30:38,399
identify as to the justification for

5285
03:30:38,399 --> 03:30:41,680
that 15%. And I I I understand, believe

5286
03:30:41,680 --> 03:30:43,840
me, we empathize 100% with the way that

5287
03:30:43,840 --> 03:30:46,080
the tax has been just transferred to

5288
03:30:46,080 --> 03:30:48,239
each of you. I think the purpose of the

5289
03:30:48,239 --> 03:30:50,160
restriction of the increases from a new

5290
03:30:50,160 --> 03:30:52,319
owner was put in place simp strictly to

5291
03:30:52,319 --> 03:30:55,040
avoid those type of problems. But that

5292
03:30:55,040 --> 03:30:57,520
is that's where we are right now. And

5293
03:30:57,520 --> 03:31:00,479
again, that's uh I would hope that it

5294
03:31:00,479 --> 03:31:01,760
might be something that you you could

5295
03:31:01,760 --> 03:31:02,880
work I don't I don't know how you're

5296
03:31:02,880 --> 03:31:04,160
going to work it out, but I'm not one to

5297
03:31:04,160 --> 03:31:05,920
recommend that to you either.

5298
03:31:05,920 --> 03:31:06,880
>> Okay.

5299
03:31:06,880 --> 03:31:08,160
>> And I appreciate Could you state your

5300
03:31:08,160 --> 03:31:09,040
name for the record?

5301
03:31:09,040 --> 03:31:10,640
>> Uh Pam Webster.

5302
03:31:10,640 --> 03:31:13,040
>> Thank you, Miss Webster. Oh, I have a

5303
03:31:13,040 --> 03:31:15,840
question for Mr. Hawkins.

5304
03:31:15,840 --> 03:31:20,160
when you um added the $84 on to the that

5305
03:31:20,160 --> 03:31:22,080
was already being paid in the land rent

5306
03:31:22,080 --> 03:31:24,800
and added it on to the top for them to

5307
03:31:24,800 --> 03:31:26,479
pay taxes. Why didn't you deliver the

5308
03:31:26,479 --> 03:31:29,120
$84 off your land rent?

5309
03:31:29,120 --> 03:31:31,439
>> Just to be clear, the prior owner wasn't

5310
03:31:31,439 --> 03:31:32,399
paying it.

5311
03:31:32,399 --> 03:31:34,239
>> Well, no, he he was paying it.

5312
03:31:34,239 --> 03:31:35,279
>> He was paying part of it.

5313
03:31:35,279 --> 03:31:36,560
>> He paid it in the end.

5314
03:31:36,560 --> 03:31:38,399
>> He ultimately came came together.

5315
03:31:38,399 --> 03:31:40,000
>> Yeah, but he was collecting it. But

5316
03:31:40,000 --> 03:31:42,640
yeah, but he did pay it. Once again,

5317
03:31:42,640 --> 03:31:46,160
>> that question was in Jest, not

5318
03:31:46,160 --> 03:31:49,190
so.

5319
03:31:49,200 --> 03:31:52,160
» Okay.

5320
03:31:52,160 --> 03:31:54,080
Just clearly stating, I said it before,

5321
03:31:54,080 --> 03:31:57,439
effectively, he got that increase. You

5322
03:31:57,439 --> 03:31:58,720
know, we're kind of saying the same

5323
03:31:58,720 --> 03:32:01,359
thing. He just broke it out. Uh, which

5324
03:32:01,359 --> 03:32:03,520
is his prerogative as to break out, you

5325
03:32:03,520 --> 03:32:08,880
know, uh, break that out. But it does, seem to, and I'm like you, I'm

5326
03:32:08,880 --> 03:32:10,479
not going to advise somebody. seems to

5327
03:32:10,479 --> 03:32:13,200
circumvent the uh the 10% max or

5328
03:32:13,200 --> 03:32:15,200
whatever the rental increase rate may

5329
03:32:15,200 --> 03:32:18,720
be. But uh effectively you you know that

5330
03:32:18,720 --> 03:32:21,120
company got that increase. That's that's

5331
03:32:21,120 --> 03:32:24,960
pure and simple. They got they got that increase. It's inconsequential

5332
03:32:24,960 --> 03:32:26,720
whether who was paying taxes before or

5333
03:32:26,720 --> 03:32:28,560
whatever. That was the increase that was

5334
03:32:28,560 --> 03:32:30,560
achieved by

5335
03:32:30,560 --> 03:32:30,880
uh

5336
03:32:30,880 --> 03:32:33,279
>> and just just to be very transparent and

5337
03:32:33,279 --> 03:32:35,120
clear. I could have closed on this

5338
03:32:35,120 --> 03:32:36,640
community and I could have raised rents

5339
03:32:36,640 --> 03:32:40,239
by 10% on day one. I didn't do that.

5340
03:32:40,239 --> 03:32:43,467
you.

5341
03:32:43,477 --> 03:32:44,160
» [laughter]

5342
03:32:44,160 --> 03:32:45,760
>> I just want to say well

5343
03:32:45,760 --> 03:32:47,840
>> I guess it's a matter of whether you're

5344
03:32:47,840 --> 03:32:50,239
call

5345
03:32:50,239 --> 03:32:51,600
whether you're calling it a I didn't

5346
03:32:51,600 --> 03:32:54,720
want to highlight this if I didn't feel

5347
03:32:54,720 --> 03:32:57,760
like this tax is something to address

5348
03:32:57,760 --> 03:32:59,760
and I thought about this let's be really

5349
03:32:59,760 --> 03:33:02,800
clear I would have closed on day one the

5350
03:33:02,800 --> 03:33:07,200
560 was the rent despite what people are

5351
03:33:07,200 --> 03:33:09,439
saying that's what they were paying

5352
03:33:09,439 --> 03:33:11,200
legally I would have been allowed to

5353
03:33:11,200 --> 03:33:15,520
raise that by $56 $6 on day one. Um,

5354
03:33:15,520 --> 03:33:17,279
>> right. But instead, you kept it where it

5355
03:33:17,279 --> 03:33:18,479
was and added 85.

5356
03:33:18,479 --> 03:33:21,200
>> Well, I wanted I wanted this to be

5357
03:33:21,200 --> 03:33:23,120
visible on

5358
03:33:23,120 --> 03:33:24,960
>> Well, you made it transparent. Very

5359
03:33:24,960 --> 03:33:28,720
transparent. I get that. But, so I my

5360
03:33:28,720 --> 03:33:33,279
view is I could have done that. Um, and

5361
03:33:33,279 --> 03:33:35,040
I didn't want to do that because once

5362
03:33:35,040 --> 03:33:37,040
again, I don't agree with this 15%

5363
03:33:37,040 --> 03:33:40,160
mobile home tax. But the conversation I

5364
03:33:40,160 --> 03:33:41,439
might have with the residents and I'm

5365
03:33:41,439 --> 03:33:42,800
debating about doing it is say, "All

5366
03:33:42,800 --> 03:33:45,439
right, I'll throw the talent. I'm sick

5367
03:33:45,439 --> 03:33:47,120
of this argument. I was trying to do the

5368
03:33:47,120 --> 03:33:50,239
right thing to to highlight that there

5369
03:33:50,239 --> 03:33:53,680
is a tax that I don't think is is is is

5370
03:33:53,680 --> 03:33:58,479
fair to these residents. Um, but I'll be

5371
03:33:58,479 --> 03:33:59,840
done with it and then I can raise the

5372
03:33:59,840 --> 03:34:01,760
rent 10%. I wasn't planning on doing it

5373
03:34:01,760 --> 03:34:02,399
and then

5374
03:34:02,399 --> 03:34:04,160
>> Well, I think if you and then I will

5375
03:34:04,160 --> 03:34:05,600
make more money in the long run

5376
03:34:05,600 --> 03:34:09,200
>> if you remove the 15% obligation on

5377
03:34:09,200 --> 03:34:10,720
excuse me please thanks if you removed

5378
03:34:10,720 --> 03:34:13,439
the 15% obligation tax obligation on

5379
03:34:13,439 --> 03:34:16,160
your residence and just left it with a

5380
03:34:16,160 --> 03:34:18,239
10% increase on your rent I think they'd

5381
03:34:18,239 --> 03:34:21,680
probably be satisfied with it

5382
03:34:21,680 --> 03:34:23,520
I think they would I can walk them

5383
03:34:23,520 --> 03:34:26,399
through the math where this is

5384
03:34:26,399 --> 03:34:29,279
beneficial to me at the end of the day

5385
03:34:29,279 --> 03:34:31,600
right now once again despite what people

5386
03:34:31,600 --> 03:34:33,840
are saying I'm I'm trying to like I

5387
03:34:33,840 --> 03:34:36,000
don't get any of this $84 I'm not

5388
03:34:36,000 --> 03:34:38,800
scraping 2% I'm not collecting any of

5389
03:34:38,800 --> 03:34:42,319
it. Um just the way the math works,

5390
03:34:42,319 --> 03:34:42,800
>> right?

5391
03:34:42,800 --> 03:34:44,880
>> I am collecting that. I am turning it

5392
03:34:44,880 --> 03:34:46,000
over to the county.

5393
03:34:46,000 --> 03:34:48,560
>> Right. Well, again, you know, our our

5394
03:34:48,560 --> 03:34:50,960
role as a county is to evaluate the tax

5395
03:34:50,960 --> 03:34:52,880
as a whole and and

5396
03:34:52,880 --> 03:34:54,319
>> that's the discussion I want to have is

5397
03:34:54,319 --> 03:34:56,960
that I think you got a tax out here

5398
03:34:56,960 --> 03:34:58,800
doesn't feel right. We all talk about

5399
03:34:58,800 --> 03:35:00,800
affordability. We all talk about, you

5400
03:35:00,800 --> 03:35:03,439
know, what's happening today with rising

5401
03:35:03,439 --> 03:35:04,960
prices.

5402
03:35:04,960 --> 03:35:08,160
This is adversely impacting an

5403
03:35:08,160 --> 03:35:11,520
affordable housing solution.

5404
03:35:11,520 --> 03:35:13,120
>> I get the property taxes on every one of

5405
03:35:13,120 --> 03:35:15,600
my rental properties every day. I absorb

5406
03:35:15,600 --> 03:35:17,600
the cost and then I charge the rent. I

5407
03:35:17,600 --> 03:35:18,560
mean, I do that every day.

5408
03:35:18,560 --> 03:35:20,560
>> Property taxes. Once again, I'm paying

5409
03:35:20,560 --> 03:35:21,120
property tax.

5410
03:35:21,120 --> 03:35:21,600
>> So am I.

5411
03:35:21,600 --> 03:35:23,040
>> Yeah. Pay it all. Yeah.

5412
03:35:23,040 --> 03:35:25,520
>> So, just to be clear, I just want to

5413
03:35:25,520 --> 03:35:28,000
make the statement and Mr. Hawkins and I

5414
03:35:28,000 --> 03:35:30,080
have talked several times and it's not

5415
03:35:30,080 --> 03:35:33,040
personal. We can agree to disagree. what

5416
03:35:33,040 --> 03:35:35,040
has happened is a deacto lot rent

5417
03:35:35,040 --> 03:35:36,319
increase. I mean, that's what you're

5418
03:35:36,319 --> 03:35:37,920
both saying and that is in fact what's

5419
03:35:37,920 --> 03:35:40,080
happened and it's beyond the 10% that

5420
03:35:40,080 --> 03:35:41,680
the law would normally allow and that's

5421
03:35:41,680 --> 03:35:42,960
what's happened. Let's just call it what

5422
03:35:42,960 --> 03:35:44,000
it is.

5423
03:35:44,000 --> 03:35:45,840
>> Where I have where I struggle with this

5424
03:35:45,840 --> 03:35:47,920
besides that point, I also struggle with

5425
03:35:47,920 --> 03:35:49,359
the messaging that went out to the

5426
03:35:49,359 --> 03:35:51,120
residents. The original letter that was

5427
03:35:51,120 --> 03:35:53,760
sent to the residents by Mr. Hawkins

5428
03:35:53,760 --> 03:35:55,520
clearly placed the blame for this

5429
03:35:55,520 --> 03:35:58,000
increase on the county. It was not It

5430
03:35:58,000 --> 03:36:00,000
was not blame on the county. It was not

5431
03:36:00,000 --> 03:36:02,080
the county. I think the terminology was

5432
03:36:02,080 --> 03:36:04,000
the county's requiring me or forcing me

5433
03:36:04,000 --> 03:36:06,239
to do this. The county doesn't have any

5434
03:36:06,239 --> 03:36:09,840
say with the method for which the 15% is

5435
03:36:09,840 --> 03:36:11,680
applied to the residents. That was a

5436
03:36:11,680 --> 03:36:14,000
personal choice or a business choice

5437
03:36:14,000 --> 03:36:16,160
that Mr. Hawkins and his company made.

5438
03:36:16,160 --> 03:36:19,200
And so, you know, the deputy director of

5439
03:36:19,200 --> 03:36:20,960
administration, Steve Lake, and I went

5440
03:36:20,960 --> 03:36:22,479
to the community meeting and we both

5441
03:36:22,479 --> 03:36:24,160
spoke at that meeting to make that clear

5442
03:36:24,160 --> 03:36:26,399
that this was not this was a business

5443
03:36:26,399 --> 03:36:28,720
decision for the way in which this

5444
03:36:28,720 --> 03:36:30,640
increase was done. It was not a WCOM

5445
03:36:30,640 --> 03:36:32,239
county forced decision. That was the

5446
03:36:32,239 --> 03:36:33,840
original messaging and that's what got

5447
03:36:33,840 --> 03:36:36,560
us literally dozens and dozens of

5448
03:36:36,560 --> 03:36:38,640
letters and that was the need to respond

5449
03:36:38,640 --> 03:36:40,399
with the county executive to the letter

5450
03:36:40,399 --> 03:36:42,479
that's in your packet. So, I want to

5451
03:36:42,479 --> 03:36:44,080
make sure that you all understand the

5452
03:36:44,080 --> 03:36:46,479
full picture of how this has evolved and

5453
03:36:46,479 --> 03:36:48,640
where my frustration lies was with the

5454
03:36:48,640 --> 03:36:51,200
messaging of this. I can't and the

5455
03:36:51,200 --> 03:36:52,960
county can't control the way in which he

5456
03:36:52,960 --> 03:36:55,680
chooses to apply the tax obviously, but

5457
03:36:55,680 --> 03:36:57,920
I think all of you very clearly see the

5458
03:36:57,920 --> 03:36:59,840
end result of this, which it is a de

5459
03:36:59,840 --> 03:37:02,160
facto lot rent increase. There's really

5460
03:37:02,160 --> 03:37:03,760
no other way to to package it

5461
03:37:03,760 --> 03:37:05,600
>> and that's up to the court system and

5462
03:37:05,600 --> 03:37:07,040
>> absolutely the state of Maryland.

5463
03:37:07,040 --> 03:37:09,120
>> Absolutely. I have one question for um

5464
03:37:09,120 --> 03:37:12,800
Mr. Hawkins. If you kept the 15% and you

5465
03:37:12,800 --> 03:37:16,080
paid the 15% tax, can't you deduct that

5466
03:37:16,080 --> 03:37:21,279
off your taxes?

5467
03:37:21,279 --> 03:37:23,600
Wouldn't that be a bill or expense?

5468
03:37:23,600 --> 03:37:27,920
>> I mean, it is it is an expense. Um,

5469
03:37:27,920 --> 03:37:30,000
so I I guess there is the possibility,

5470
03:37:30,000 --> 03:37:31,920
but that doesn't really factor into kind

5471
03:37:31,920 --> 03:37:34,000
of how I was thinking about it, but I I

5472
03:37:34,000 --> 03:37:35,840
don't know the specific tax treatment of

5473
03:37:35,840 --> 03:37:36,160
it.

5474
03:37:36,160 --> 03:37:37,680
>> I mean, you pay taxes, don't you, on

5475
03:37:37,680 --> 03:37:40,239
your you know, you pay property tax, but

5476
03:37:40,239 --> 03:37:43,920
when you pay if you pay include the $84

5477
03:37:43,920 --> 03:37:47,040
in your taxes that you pay every year.

5478
03:37:47,040 --> 03:37:50,160
I'm not a business person per se, but I

5479
03:37:50,160 --> 03:37:52,800
have I'm not stupid either.

5480
03:37:52,800 --> 03:37:53,680
>> So,

5481
03:37:53,680 --> 03:37:55,600
>> don't you take Wouldn't you take that

5482
03:37:55,600 --> 03:37:59,359
off as an expense on your tax return

5483
03:37:59,359 --> 03:38:00,800
that $84

5484
03:38:00,800 --> 03:38:02,880
>> you talking about the current way or the

5485
03:38:02,880 --> 03:38:03,760
prior way?

5486
03:38:03,760 --> 03:38:05,600
>> I don't care what way it is. Don't you

5487
03:38:05,600 --> 03:38:08,720
take when you take $84 the current way?

5488
03:38:08,720 --> 03:38:11,680
>> 8 $84. You're you're charging them a

5489
03:38:11,680 --> 03:38:16,160
month and you have 125 prophecies.

5490
03:38:16,160 --> 03:38:17,359
That's what you said.

5491
03:38:17,359 --> 03:38:18,640
>> 125 sites.

5492
03:38:18,640 --> 03:38:23,439
>> 125. You multiply that 125 * 84. When

5493
03:38:23,439 --> 03:38:27,439
you deduct that from your tax expense on

5494
03:38:27,439 --> 03:38:29,439
your tax

5495
03:38:29,439 --> 03:38:32,080
return because that would be an expense

5496
03:38:32,080 --> 03:38:34,000
for you and it would help you decrease

5497
03:38:34,000 --> 03:38:35,840
your taxes that you have to pay.

5498
03:38:35,840 --> 03:38:37,920
>> Be a wash because he's getting it in and

5499
03:38:37,920 --> 03:38:39,600
it's going out. It wouldn't

5500
03:38:39,600 --> 03:38:41,520
>> I'm collecting I'm I'm collecting it

5501
03:38:41,520 --> 03:38:43,040
from the residents and I'm paying it

5502
03:38:43,040 --> 03:38:43,279
out.

5503
03:38:43,279 --> 03:38:45,600
>> Yeah. Yeah. It'd be a wash. I have a

5504
03:38:45,600 --> 03:38:47,520
question. We've lowered the tax rate in

5505
03:38:47,520 --> 03:38:49,840
Wakcomo County.

5506
03:38:49,840 --> 03:38:51,359
What was it when I came on here? A

5507
03:38:51,359 --> 03:38:52,239
dollar and something.

5508
03:38:52,239 --> 03:38:53,556
>> It was a dollar eight when I was on the

5509
03:38:53,556 --> 03:38:54,000
[clears throat] council.

5510
03:38:54,000 --> 03:38:57,359
>> A dollar8. And we're down to 77 right

5511
03:38:57,359 --> 03:38:57,840
now.

5512
03:38:57,840 --> 03:38:58,640
>> 77.

5513
03:38:58,640 --> 03:39:00,560
>> Okay. So, we've lowered the tax rate a

5514
03:39:00,560 --> 03:39:02,960
dollar. Let's see. 8

5515
03:39:02,960 --> 03:39:06,479
23. You know, we've low but this 15%'s

5516
03:39:06,479 --> 03:39:07,760
never gone down.

5517
03:39:07,760 --> 03:39:10,080
>> Isn't that relative though?

5518
03:39:10,080 --> 03:39:13,520
>> No, this is a flat. This is a 15% on

5519
03:39:13,520 --> 03:39:16,080
>> It's been 15% since 1978.

5520
03:39:16,080 --> 03:39:18,720
>> Yeah, we've lowered the taxes, property

5521
03:39:18,720 --> 03:39:20,960
taxes over the years. Of course,

5522
03:39:20,960 --> 03:39:22,479
assessments gone up. So, I don't want

5523
03:39:22,479 --> 03:39:24,960
anybody to get confused and say, "Oh, my

5524
03:39:24,960 --> 03:39:26,399
taxes has gone down." Because they

5525
03:39:26,399 --> 03:39:27,840
haven't because the assessments has gone

5526
03:39:27,840 --> 03:39:30,239
up. But we've lowered the rate. But this

5527
03:39:30,239 --> 03:39:33,200
hasn't this hasn't moved. Shouldn't that

5528
03:39:33,200 --> 03:39:34,800
be reflected? It's like I said, I think

5529
03:39:34,800 --> 03:39:36,239
we still need to revisit this, but we

5530
03:39:36,239 --> 03:39:37,840
need a whole lot of information from

5531
03:39:37,840 --> 03:39:39,680
finance and from uh

5532
03:39:39,680 --> 03:39:41,439
>> from legal to

5533
03:39:41,439 --> 03:39:43,200
>> to address that. But I get it. When I

5534
03:39:43,200 --> 03:39:45,359
first saw the 15, I was shocked, too. It

5535
03:39:45,359 --> 03:39:47,359
does equal out to almost the same as if

5536
03:39:47,359 --> 03:39:49,600
you had an independent unit on that

5537
03:39:49,600 --> 03:39:50,160
property,

5538
03:39:50,160 --> 03:39:50,560
>> right?

5539
03:39:50,560 --> 03:39:53,200
>> Uh as Dave did the math, it may it may

5540
03:39:53,200 --> 03:39:54,800
even out, but it was

5541
03:39:54,800 --> 03:39:56,880
>> and it's really not 15%. Keep in mind,

5542
03:39:56,880 --> 03:39:58,319
it's really 13%.

5543
03:39:58,319 --> 03:39:59,760
>> I understand. I I just want to make sure

5544
03:39:59,760 --> 03:40:02,160
that you understand we what's remitted

5545
03:40:02,160 --> 03:40:04,319
to the county is 13%.

5546
03:40:04,319 --> 03:40:06,560
>> So like John [snorts] just said it kind

5547
03:40:06,560 --> 03:40:09,120
of equals what I was talking about what

5548
03:40:09,120 --> 03:40:10,560
Dave was talking about but then there's

5549
03:40:10,560 --> 03:40:13,040
an additional tax on his property.

5550
03:40:13,040 --> 03:40:13,760
>> Y

5551
03:40:13,760 --> 03:40:14,720
>> okay

5552
03:40:14,720 --> 03:40:18,640
>> so you know maybe there you know maybe

5553
03:40:18,640 --> 03:40:21,920
this is an unfair tax. Um

5554
03:40:21,920 --> 03:40:24,640
especially if it's not decreased any the

5555
03:40:24,640 --> 03:40:26,800
15%'s not decreased any since we've

5556
03:40:26,800 --> 03:40:29,520
lowered the tax rate over 20. What? 27

5557
03:40:29,520 --> 03:40:31,760
27% 27 cents.

5558
03:40:31,760 --> 03:40:33,279
>> We're we're quite a ways off and it's

5559
03:40:33,279 --> 03:40:34,479
going to be another council honestly

5560
03:40:34,479 --> 03:40:35,600
that's going to make their decision.

5561
03:40:35,600 --> 03:40:36,960
That's just how the process is going to

5562
03:40:36,960 --> 03:40:39,279
work. Mr. Hawkins, I mean, you made a a

5563
03:40:39,279 --> 03:40:41,439
gracious gesture that, you know, maybe

5564
03:40:41,439 --> 03:40:43,680
you'll try to regroup with them and with

5565
03:40:43,680 --> 03:40:46,720
your uh with your tenants to try to ease

5566
03:40:46,720 --> 03:40:48,640
this burden simply to make things

5567
03:40:48,640 --> 03:40:50,080
better. You said it may be more

5568
03:40:50,080 --> 03:40:51,680
profitable for you to do so. Well, if

5569
03:40:51,680 --> 03:40:53,600
that's the case, then then that would be

5570
03:40:53,600 --> 03:40:55,680
I think that would be a great win-win.

5571
03:40:55,680 --> 03:40:57,200
So, we'll leave it at that because we

5572
03:40:57,200 --> 03:40:58,640
can't determine that here at this table.

5573
03:40:58,640 --> 03:41:00,000
>> No. And I and I think that's like I

5574
03:41:00,000 --> 03:41:00,399
said,

5575
03:41:00,399 --> 03:41:01,920
>> I don't think it'll be a win-win for the

5576
03:41:01,920 --> 03:41:03,760
residents because he can do 10% a year,

5577
03:41:03,760 --> 03:41:04,239
right?

5578
03:41:04,239 --> 03:41:04,640
>> Correct.

5579
03:41:04,640 --> 03:41:07,760
>> Yeah. And again, all I'm saying is as of

5580
03:41:07,760 --> 03:41:09,840
right now, as as Tracy says, it appears

5581
03:41:09,840 --> 03:41:12,000
to be a de facto as is, which could be a

5582
03:41:12,000 --> 03:41:14,000
really huge legal challenge. It may

5583
03:41:14,000 --> 03:41:16,080
benefit in the long run and and have

5584
03:41:16,080 --> 03:41:17,520
that conversation as to whether they

5585
03:41:17,520 --> 03:41:19,680
want the 10% or whether they want the 15

5586
03:41:19,680 --> 03:41:22,239
because you could do the 10% plus the 15

5587
03:41:22,239 --> 03:41:25,040
every year anyway. the 15 could stay,

5588
03:41:25,040 --> 03:41:27,520
Joe, and the 10% would go every I wanted

5589
03:41:27,520 --> 03:41:29,600
to be draconian. Correct. And I wouldn't

5590
03:41:29,600 --> 03:41:31,520
do that. One of the thing, um, Tracy and

5591
03:41:31,520 --> 03:41:33,359
I did talk about just for your research

5592
03:41:33,359 --> 03:41:35,600
to go back on it, the fact pattern that

5593
03:41:35,600 --> 03:41:38,000
I had about this tax as well.

5594
03:41:38,000 --> 03:41:42,479
>> Um, as Tracy said, you're collecting 15%

5595
03:41:42,479 --> 03:41:45,600
on gross charges based on the residence.

5596
03:41:45,600 --> 03:41:48,960
So then I'm getting 2% if I was going to

5597
03:41:48,960 --> 03:41:51,520
do it the right way as a collection. So

5598
03:41:51,520 --> 03:41:53,040
once again, the fact pattern I had on

5599
03:41:53,040 --> 03:41:55,279
this is I'm expected to go collect this

5600
03:41:55,279 --> 03:41:58,720
tax from the residents and then I'm

5601
03:41:58,720 --> 03:42:00,560
going to suffer if I can't collect the

5602
03:42:00,560 --> 03:42:03,120
tax. That's making up these two points

5603
03:42:03,120 --> 03:42:04,080
by doing this.

5604
03:42:04,080 --> 03:42:05,439
>> I don't know why they gave you the 2%

5605
03:42:05,439 --> 03:42:07,120
cuz you're not going to collect the tax.

5606
03:42:07,120 --> 03:42:08,560
>> You're not you're just charging rent and

5607
03:42:08,560 --> 03:42:10,319
you're paying tax to the government.

5608
03:42:10,319 --> 03:42:11,920
>> That's that's the going out and

5609
03:42:11,920 --> 03:42:13,520
physically collecting the tax. You are

5610
03:42:13,520 --> 03:42:14,319
now maybe.

5611
03:42:14,319 --> 03:42:16,399
>> Well, because that's how I that's when I

5612
03:42:16,399 --> 03:42:19,200
went through this research. I read it is

5613
03:42:19,200 --> 03:42:21,279
that I'm supposed to go collect this.

5614
03:42:21,279 --> 03:42:23,040
It's not imposed upon the tenants. It's

5615
03:42:23,040 --> 03:42:24,239
opposed upon the owner. So, you've

5616
03:42:24,239 --> 03:42:24,479
already

5617
03:42:24,479 --> 03:42:26,160
>> But then why' they set up this 2%

5618
03:42:26,160 --> 03:42:27,120
scrape?

5619
03:42:27,120 --> 03:42:27,840
>> That's That's

5620
03:42:27,840 --> 03:42:31,600
>> That to me is total nonsense. That's where I kind of kept going down

5621
03:42:31,600 --> 03:42:33,040
this pathway. This makes no sense.

5622
03:42:33,040 --> 03:42:34,479
>> Well, let me wrap it up. Really

5623
03:42:34,479 --> 03:42:36,239
appreciate you coming in. We do hope you

5624
03:42:36,239 --> 03:42:38,880
do uh try to work through some type of a

5625
03:42:38,880 --> 03:42:40,239
compromise with them. It would make

5626
03:42:40,239 --> 03:42:42,080
everything much easier because it is

5627
03:42:42,080 --> 03:42:43,279
going to go to the state level. I

5628
03:42:43,279 --> 03:42:45,040
guarantee you it's going to get go to

5629
03:42:45,040 --> 03:42:46,640
the state level because it's opened up

5630
03:42:46,640 --> 03:42:48,720
another window and it may make things

5631
03:42:48,720 --> 03:42:51,279
harder across the board. But thank you

5632
03:42:51,279 --> 03:42:52,960
very much for coming in. Thank you.

5633
03:42:52,960 --> 03:42:54,399
all for coming in. One more

5634
03:42:54,399 --> 03:42:56,560
thing, you you have a nice park there.

5635
03:42:56,560 --> 03:42:57,920
It's great. And I know a lot of the

5636
03:42:57,920 --> 03:43:00,160
people that live in there, there's a lot

5637
03:43:00,160 --> 03:43:02,399
of parks in Wakcomo County that isn't so

5638
03:43:02,399 --> 03:43:04,880
nice. Don't price yourself out of

5639
03:43:04,880 --> 03:43:08,080
business over there. you know,

5640
03:43:08,080 --> 03:43:10,479
>> that's, you know, one of the reasons why

5641
03:43:10,479 --> 03:43:12,080
I wanted to highlight this for the

5642
03:43:12,080 --> 03:43:13,760
existing residents to make sure that

5643
03:43:13,760 --> 03:43:16,000
they everybody knew about it. Um, so I

5644
03:43:16,000 --> 03:43:17,760
appreciate that. And not to be a

5645
03:43:17,760 --> 03:43:19,359
complete sickopant, this is my first

5646
03:43:19,359 --> 03:43:22,880
county council meeting anywhere in 50 53

5647
03:43:22,880 --> 03:43:24,479
years.

5648
03:43:24,479 --> 03:43:27,199
>> I'm impressed with what you guys

5649
03:43:27,199 --> 03:43:29,359
sitting up here. So, [laughter]

5650
03:43:29,359 --> 03:43:31,359
>> well, we got we got one positive today.

5651
03:43:31,359 --> 03:43:32,720
Thanks.

5652
03:43:32,720 --> 03:43:34,319
>> You're better people than me. I will say

5653
03:43:34,319 --> 03:43:34,720
that.

5654
03:43:34,720 --> 03:43:36,720
>> I move to a journ. [laughter] Yeah,

5655
03:43:36,720 --> 03:43:39,920
thank you very much. On that note,

5656
03:43:39,920 --> 03:43:43,600
>> thank you Tracy. Thank you very much.

5657
03:43:43,600 --> 03:43:46,640
>> Uh the next item Oh, excuse me. So,

5658
03:43:46,640 --> 03:43:48,080
>> next item is adjourn, right?

5659
03:43:48,080 --> 03:43:49,520
>> Yeah. So, entertain a motion to adjourn

5660
03:43:49,520 --> 03:43:51,279
and go into close session. So,

5661
03:43:51,279 --> 03:43:52,479
>> second.

5662
03:43:52,479 --> 03:44:10,150
>> All in favor? Hi.

5663
03:44:10,160 --> 03:44:12,640
» We're now convening as the Wcomu County

5664
03:44:12,640 --> 03:44:15,439
Urban Services Commission uh for an open

5665
03:44:15,439 --> 03:44:17,760
work session. Uh the first item on the

5666
03:44:17,760 --> 03:44:20,080
open work session, oh, excuse me. I have

5667
03:44:20,080 --> 03:44:21,840
to make a motion to go into a closed

5668
03:44:21,840 --> 03:44:24,239
work session.

5669
03:44:24,239 --> 03:44:26,160
Did you give me that to read as well? I

5670
03:44:26,160 --> 03:44:29,680
did. What the heck I do with it?

5671
03:44:29,680 --> 03:44:40,790
>> Did you give it to me and write it?

5672
03:44:40,800 --> 03:44:48,469
I didn't throw it away

5673
03:44:48,479 --> 03:45:00,790
just

5674
03:45:00,800 --> 03:45:05,750
another one.

5675
03:45:05,760 --> 03:45:08,560
» Can you tell him we're off the air?

5676
03:45:08,560 --> 03:45:28,790
All

5677
03:45:28,800 --> 03:45:30,800
right. Urban Services closed meeting

5678
03:45:30,800 --> 03:45:33,600
statement. We got it. Entertain a motion

5679
03:45:33,600 --> 03:45:35,439
to adjourn from open sessions the Urban

5680
03:45:35,439 --> 03:45:37,279
Service Commission uh to go into a

5681
03:45:37,279 --> 03:45:38,800
closed work session pursuant to general

5682
03:45:38,800 --> 03:45:41,520
provisions article section 3-305B8

5683
03:45:41,520 --> 03:45:43,120
to consult with staff, consultants, or

5684
03:45:43,120 --> 03:45:44,479
other individuals about pending or

5685
03:45:44,479 --> 03:45:46,000
potential litigation to protect the

5686
03:45:46,000 --> 03:45:48,479
county's legal position. So move

5687
03:45:48,479 --> 03:45:49,439
>> second.

5688
03:45:49,439 --> 03:45:50,720
>> All those in favor say I.

5689
03:45:50,720 --> 03:45:53,040
>> I oppose.

5690
03:45:53,040 --> 03:45:56,279
Thank you.