Denton, Maryland

The regularly scheduled meeting of the County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland, convened at 9:30 AM in the Hearing Room, Courthouse, Denton.

John W. Cole, President

Franklin W. Prettyman, Vice President

Charles C. Cawley, County Administrator

John S. LeGates, Member

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the minutes of December 22, 1998 were approved. Vouchers #44373 – #44512 were approved for payment. Bi-weekly direct payroll was approved for release.

The Commissioners signed State Assessment Change Reports #1240 - #1245.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners approved and signed purchase order #13800 to Denton Postmaster in the amount of $2,000 to replenish the Courthouse postage meter.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners approved the following contingency fund expenditure: $1,453 – Bates Moving and Storage – services for moving recreation and parks into the Health and Public Services building.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners accepted the low bid of M & L GMC Truck and Volvo in the amount of $23,700 for a new truck chassis for project #CC-CR-1599, truck body for Advanced Life Support, and signed purchase order #14558 in that amount.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners accepted the low bid of MEDTEC Ambulance Corporation in the amount of $22,921 for the body remount onto the new truck chassis for project #CC-CR-1599, truck body for Advanced Life Support, and signed purchase order #14559 in that amount. All other bids submitted were rejected.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners approved and signed a letter of support as requested by the Caroline County Humane Society requesting Senator Baker and Delegate Baker to introduce capital bond bills in the amount of $242,500 for construction/renovation of the Ridgely animal control site.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners signed a letter to the Maryland Historical Trust in support of the Non-Capital Historical Preservation Grant application made by the Old Harford Town Maritime Center located in West Denton. The project will develop and create an educational web site to document and disseminate cultural heritage information related to the maritime trade that flourished in the Upper Shore’s riverine systems for over two centuries.

President Cole requested that a work session be scheduled in the near future regarding the original five-Commissioner legislative bill in order to proceed.

The Commissioners instructed staff to draft a letter of support regarding the proposed engineering funds for the Dover Bridge.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners authorized Sue Simmons, director of recreation and parks, to assist the Town of Goldsboro in the search for a functional park design and possible Program Open Space funding, due to her expertise and knowledge in this field.

The Commissioners met with Dan McDermott, director of Upper Shore Private Industry Council (PIC), regarding the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). Mr. McDermott provided a detailed presentation outlining the structure of the PIC from 1983 until present. He explained that the PIC was formed in 1983 by Congress under a federal law called the Job Training Partnership Act which targeted poor adults, poor youth and the unemployed. Over the last 15 years, the PIC has had programmatic success and has met and exceeded goals set by the Department of Labor. The role of the PIC has expanded through the years and the Workforce Investment Act was passed in August 1998 by President Clinton. In order to participate in new programs the PIC will convert to a WIB (Workforce Investment Board). Those new programs are:

1. One-Stop Delivery – consolidation of all programs which gives the WIB more authority and choice to expend funds locally; and
2. Customer Choice – making decisions on where to get job training for workforce.

Both the PIC and WIB is comprised of members of which 50% represent the private sector. They are management boards in which they make decisions about funding expenditures and making/meeting goals and can hire and fire. There are currently three members that represent Caroline County on the PIC Board. Mr. McDermott said that the results have been good with 60% of the people placed in jobs still working 13 weeks later, and that they deal with 1,000 people over a five-county area. The PIC’s budget is between $1.1-$1.3 million and is 100% federally- funded. The Commissioners will have to respond to the state as to whether they will designate the PIC from what they are now, a Service Delivery Area (SDA) to a WIA. Mr. McDermott explained that WIA makes significant changes in federal job training initiatives. In order to gain a better understanding of the changes brought about by the WIA, the Upper Shore Private Industry Council is sponsoring a forum to address the new legislation. The forum is scheduled for February 19^th at Chesapeake College. Mr. McDermott advised that the Commissioners will have to make a decision on the status of the PIC by January 29^th.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners approved and adopted the FY 1999-2000 Budget Guidelines and Calendar contingent upon approval by Mr. LeGates, as summarized below:

• FY 2000 Budget Development Guidelines -

Our priorities this year include:

• Maintaining Caroline County’s Level of Service
• No Real Property Tax Rate Increase
• Reducing the Local Income (Piggyback) Surtax Rate – Caroline County’s 60% rate is scheduled, by resolution, to fully revert to its former 50% level as of January 1, 2000. This would have enormous impact on the County by reducing revenues by over $1.3 million. Instead, the Commissioners will be considering reducing the rate from 60% to 55% in FY 2000 and continue to further reduce to 50% in FY 2002, or sooner if fiscally possible.
• Continuing Implementation of Equitable Employee Compensation Rates Through Employee Evaluation and Merit Compensation. Employee Compensation is a Priority.
• Preparing Caroline County for the Year 2000 Computer Technology Compatibility Issues.
• Continuing Technology Enhancements Including System Wide Computer Compatibility, Local Area Networks, and Beginning the County’s Web Page Internet Presence.

The budget calendar includes the following budget hearing dates:

At 11:00 AM, and as authorized by 1995 Maryland Code, State Government 10-508(a)(4) and (7); (a)(3) and (7), the Commissioners, on motion by Mr. Prettyman, seconded by President Cole, adjourned into closed session to meet with JOK Walsh and Helen Spinelli; and with Sue Simmons to discuss a corporate relocation prospect; and an option agreement on a proposed south county regional park.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 12:00 PM. President Cole reported that the Commissioners, in closed session, discussed a potential corporate relocation of a company and the personal property tax issue as presented by JOK Walsh and Helen Spinelli and examined two potential purchase options for a south county regional park and discussed possible appraisals on both sites.

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

Vivian L. Anders

Acting Executive Assistant