Denton, Maryland

The County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland, convened their regular meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the County Commissioners Hearing Room.

Margaret R. Myers, President

John S. LeGates, Vice President

John W. Cole, Member

Charles C. Cawley, County Administrator

On motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners approved the minutes of April 28, 1998. Vouchers #40371 - #40469 were approved for payment. The Commissioners approved the bi-weekly direct payroll.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Myers signed purchase order #11826 to Postmaster, Denton in the amount of $1,500 to replenish the Courthouse postage meter.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Myers signed purchase order #11827 to Black Oak Computer Services in the amount of $1,095.50 for seven hours of computer services for AS400 client access.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously confirmed their support of a letter sent by President Myers to Governor Glendening requesting his signature on Senate bill 529, Circuit Courts, Efficiency and Equity, since it directs the state to pay one-third of the current juror per diem beginning in the year 2000, which county governments hope is the beginning of state assumption of these and other circuit court costs.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners authorized the Caroline County Clergy Association to observe the National Day of Prayer on May 7, 1998 from 12:20 to 12:40 p.m. on the Courthouse concourse.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously authorized the Caroline County Board of Election Supervisors to utilize approximately $3,000 from the Board’s FY 1998-99 voting machine maintenance fund in order to perform the required county-wide mailing notifying voters of the new electronic voting machine system and requesting updated voter information. Sandy Logan, administrator, reported that she will seek non-profit status from the U. S. Postal Service if Anne Arundel County succeeds in obtaining this status in order to reduce mailing costs.

The Commissioners recognized William A. "Kingfish" Brown, 16-year correctional officer with the County, who was recently voted correctional officer of the year by his supervisors. Mr. Brown will be honored at a statewide ceremony in Ocean City.

The Commissioners joined with Senator Richard Colburn and supporters in honoring Sheriff Philip Brown, who was presented with commendations from the Maryland Senate, and the Governor’s Office for his initiative in fundraising and equipping Caroline sheriff’s deputies’ cars with automatic external defibrillators. The Sheriff thanked Bobby Schoonover, who worked with the Sheriff on the project, the many civic organizations and individuals who contributed funds, and his deputies for undergoing AED training.

Senator Colburn congratulated President Myers on her appearance in the new regional economic development CD-ROM produced by Congressman Gilchrest’s office to aid company relocation professionals in evaluating the area.

Kevin Brooks, director of Maryland Rural Development Corporation, accompanied by Gary Sawyer, Community Services director, gave a presentation on his organization’s request that Caroline County contract directly with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for administration of the Section 8 rental assistance program. MRDC has administered the program since 1985 as subcontractor, but the federal funds have always passed through the state, which receives an administrative share. If HUD approves the County’s application, funds would go directly to MRDC, and since MRDC would retain the administrative share, it would use the $18,000-$20,000 in CDBG funds formerly used for administrative support of Section 8 for its other public programs. The County would receive regular reports from MRDC, and HUD would monitor MRDC directly. Most counties are now direct-contracting, or in the process of doing so. A termination date for the five-year contract with the state will need to be established. Mr. Brooks said he can’t think of a downside to direct contracting as far as the County is concerned, and there will be no additiional administrative burden placed on the County. On motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Myers signed letters to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and to the Maryland Community Development Administration applying for the "direct ACC for the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program," as recommended by Mr. Brooks.

Following a presentation by Shirley DeShields, Federalsburg town Clerk and concerned citizen, and Richard Colburn, Federalsburg town manager, accompanied by Pearl Lofland and Helena Griffin, members of the board of trustees for the Community Civic League, Inc., Federalsburg, the Commissioners, on motion by Mr. LeGates, unanimously approved and signed the following documents to enable the League to resubmit its CDBG application to the state for funds not to exceed $220,000 for renovation of its facility on Laurel Grove Road just outside town limits; and furthermore confirmed contribution of $2,500 from the current County economic development budget toward the local share of the grant application:

• Resolution #98-002

• Grant Submittal Cover Letter

• Cover Page of Grant Application
• Statement of Assurances and Certificates

• Disclosure Report Parts II and VI

The Town is contributing $5,000 and will provide grant administration. Interfaith Housing Development Corporation is preparing the application at no cost to the County. If the grant application is again rejected by the state, the Town, as custodian, will return the $2,500 it will receive from the County at the end of June 1998.

The Commissioners discussed with the deputy county attorney a draft letter to be signed by the Commissioners to sheriff’s department employees clarifying their status as non-merit employees, which was approved with the addition of a sentence stating that further clarification would be forthcoming. The letter was developed with the sheriff’s participation.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved the following contingency fund expenditure: $1,660.85 – Board of Education – toward expenses not to exceed $10,000 for administrative office building (old Superfresh) feasibility study.

On motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners unanimously agreed to return to the Board of Education Invoice #01813 in the amount of $15,990 for Colonel Richardson athletic field renovations since it was originally agreed that those capital funds (not to exceed $165,000) would not be available until FY 1998-99.

The Commissioners held a brief budget workshop. A copy of the proposed budget ad was distributed. Mr. Cawley reported:

• The Humane Society may need more operating funds depending on when they move into the new building.
• The Board of Education will be strongly lobbying against the proposed maintenance of effort funding level. The revenue estimates can’t be increased until the May check is received. The only way to provide more education money is to increase revenue estimates or reduce the proposed 4-cent property tax reduction.
• Employees reclassified within the last 12 months will not get a pay increase other than the 1% cost-of-living all County employees will get in July. The jail reclassifications will require $40,000 out of the $100,000 set aside for merit increases. Employees will not be back on a regular schedule of being re-evaluated and receiving merit pay unless the Commissioners make a commitment to fund this in FY 1999-2000 and subsequently. If a department has no reclassifications, department heads have merit increase award discretion of about 2%. The budget includes funds for a computer person, an EDC/tourism person, and moving a court recorder to full-time.

• President Myers and Mr. Cawley will work on the double sided budget pie chart enclosure for the tax bills due to the Treasurer’s Office this Thursday.

• Capital Budget:

• Need to add $20,000 to purchase the building that the high school students construct every year.
• Reluctant to add more money to the Denton Armory unless the Town contributes to operating expenses. Annual operating expenses estimated at $35,000 need to be verified.
• The rental income on the new health and public services facility formerly estimated at $200,000 annually is looking more like $140,000, which is cause for concern. If accurate, the County will be hit with a $100,000 annual operating cost in year 2 instead of the $50,000 anticipated.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved payment of the following from the contingency fund: $5,902.86 – Piper & Marbury – legal services rendered for the Dashiell contract dispute. This will just about exhaust this fund. No more bills are anticipated this fiscal year, but if an appeal by Dashiell is successful, it could cost the County $15,000.

There being no further business, the meeting of the County Commissioners was adjourned.

Leigh Sands

Executive Assistant