Denton, Maryland

The regularly scheduled meeting of the County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland, convened at 9:30 AM in Hearing Room #103, Courthouse, Denton.

John W. Cole, President

John S. LeGates, Member

Charles C. Cawley, County Administrator

Franklin W. Prettyman, Vice President

President Cole noted that Mr. Prettyman was attending an important Upper Shore Economic Development Partnership meeting this morning as Caroline’s representative.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners approved and signed an 8/3/99 contingency fund approval sheet authorizing payment to Alchar & Associates, Ltd., in the amount of $500 for T-shirts for the 4-H AllStars program. William Cooper thanked the Commissioners for their contribution.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners approved and signed Provident Lease Corp., Inc. Lease Purchase Acceptance Certificate No. 18 directing Provident to fund the cost of two Celeron personal computers for the Department of Emergency Management in the amount of $1,458 from Data Networks, Inc.

Karen Finn, director, Human Services Council, presented an activities update accompanied by a written report. The program has been successful in reducing cost by decreasing out-of-state placements of children, and in-state placement reductions are also a goal. The transportation forum has focussed attention on this countywide problem. The Commissioners deferred decision on the requested Council appointments until the next regular meeting.

Following a presentation by Donna Kimball and Jim Lewis, Maryland Cooperative Extension, and on a motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners authorized expenditure of $12,729 of FY 1998-99 Extension unexpended salary and travel categories. The funds will be used for needed computers, equipment and furniture.

Marvin MacDonald, purchasing officer, reported that no bids were received for project #CC-HC-8399, improvements to Hog Creek Road. Only two bidders attended the pre-bid meeting and they indicated they had plenty of work. Harry Cole said if outside contractors aren’t available to build these new roads and roads employees are used instead, the road maintenance program, which is already compromised, will suffer. Mr. LeGates stated that the County must maintain its roads. It was generally agreed to rebid the project in early September.

Robert Newberry, owner of Stoney Ridge Aquaculture, and consultant to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, briefed the Commissioners on the growing aquaculture industry. The Maryland Seafood Coop has been formed to enhance the Maryland program and make it the largest producer in the state. Every county in the state has at least one producer, and Caroline has two. Newberry discussed the costs and potential profit involved in tank and pond farming. The net yield per acre on a grain crop is about $70 maximum, while aquaculture can yield as much as $15,000 per acre. Interested persons should contact Roy Castle with MDA.

JOK Walsh, economic development consultant, Karen Jensen, attorney representing the Town of Federalsburg, and Robert Jarrell, attorney representing G. A. Pipe, Inc., presented documents pertaining to an industrial property. In 1981 the Town of Federalsburg obtained $758,380 in Maryland Industrial Land Act loans, guaranteed by the County, on behalf of Metal Systems, a subsidiary of Maryland Plastics, for construction of a shell building in order to facilitate the development of the Federalsburg Industrial Park. Due to MILA loan requirements, several parcels of land on which the building was to be constructed were transferred from the Town to the County, with some of that land subsequently reconveyed to the Town. The building is now under contract to be sold to G. A. Pipe, Inc. with settlement on or about August 10^th. A point and a half were added to the MILA financing to establish a default fund since there were no personal guarantees, and it (the "Metal Systems Fund") currently contains about $350,000. Mr. Walsh said the lease purchase program worked exactly as it was designed to do, and that the County no longer has a role to play. All finances will involve other sources. Mr. Jarrell explained the past property transfers, and the proposed deed to the Town on the remaining parcel in the County’s name, including a no-objection provision to the sale of the Gabriel/United Leasing leasehold interest to G. A. Pipe. On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners approved and signed a Termination Agreement with the Town terminating the June 16, 1981 Agreement between the parties regarding this project, and approving the disbursement of all funds currently maintained in the Metal Systems Fund to the Town of Federalsburg for uses in the business and economic development of the Town. On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners approved and signed a Deed to the Town of Federalsburg reconveying 5.183 acres in Federalsburg Industrial Park for no monetary consideration. The Deed will be effective as of settlement. On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners approved and signed Lessors’ Consent to Assignment with the Town of Federalsburg, consenting to the assignment of the Lease to G. A. Pipe, Inc. under the terms of the Agreement to Assign. On motion by Mr. LeGates, President Cole was authorized to sign on the County’s behalf any additional documents needed to close this transaction.

Following presentation by Betsey Krempasky, County planner, Lori Schmick, planning office, and Helen Spinelli, economic development director, the Commissioners unanimously adopted and signed the following resolution, which is required under the statewide Smart Growth program. Ms. Spinelli said that the resolution can be amended by the County when there is a need to do so.

RESOLUTION #99-019

The Maryland Annotated Code, State Finance and Procurement, Title 5, Subtitle 7B allows Caroline County to designate priority funding areas;

The designated funding areas must comply with § 5-7B-03 of the aforementioned Title 5, Subtitle 7B;

Caroline County has designated priority funding areas meeting the criteria set forth in § 5-7B-03 which were zoned Industrial prior to January 1, 1997, or zoned for employment as commercial and are planned for public or community sewer service in the Caroline County’s ten-year Comprehensive Water and Sewerage Plan.

The designated priority funding areas are as shown on official Caroline County Planning and Codes Administration maps and are specifically identified as:

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED by the County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland, that the areas specifically identified on page one of this Resolution are hereby designated as priority funding areas in accordance with Maryland Annotated Code, State Finance and Procurement, Title 5, Subtitle 7B.

ADOPTED/EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 3, 1999

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF

CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND

At 11:05 AM, and as authorized by 1995 Md. Code, State Government 10-508(a)(1); and (a)(1) and (7) respectively, the Commissioners, on motion by Mr. LeGates and seconded by Mr. Cole, adjourned into closed session to meet with Ron Kent, County attorney, and Mr. Cawley about Mr. Cawley’s contract; and with Mr. Kent and Mr. Cawley about a pension disbursement.

The meeting reconvened in open session at 11:45 AM.

President Cole reported that in closed session the Commissioners discussed, and with a minor change or two basically agreed upon the proposed provisions of Mr. Cawley’s contract with the County, and slated it for action at the next meeting. Regarding the pension disbursement, the Commissioners, on motion by Mr. LeGates, authorized Mr. Cawley to sign Administrative Resolution #99-019 releasing earned benefits to a former employee.

The Commissioners reviewed the agenda for next week’s meeting with Senator Mikulski, and the Governor’s proposed drought emergency proclamation.

It was noted that the Commissioners were scheduled to meet with the Board of Education at the Board’s Franklin Street facility at 4 PM.

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

Leigh Sands

Executive Assistant