Denton, Maryland

The regularly scheduled meeting of the County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland, convened at 12:45 PM in the Hearing Room, Courthouse, Denton.

John W. Cole, President

John S. LeGates, Member

Charles C. Cawley, County Administrator

Franklin W. Prettyman, Vice President

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the minutes of August 3, 1999 were approved. Vouchers #47588 – #47701 were approved for payment. Bi-weekly direct payroll was approved for release.

On individual motions by Mr. LeGates, the following purchase orders were approved and signed:

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners authorized disposal of the following surplus equipment, as presented by Marvin MacDonald, purchasing officer:

Mr. MacDonald reported that Wicomico County and the Town of Federalsburg have expressed interest in purchasing the 1986 dump truck, however, if an agreement is not reached, disposal at public auction is recommended.

Chuck Emerson, director of public works, reported to the Commissioners that the floor in a shower stall at the detention center is cracked and can potentially cause damage to the offices located below. A subcontractor of the plumber, Trice, Inc., has submitted a proposal to grind, epoxy and apply a new rubberized coating to the floor. On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners authorized expenditure in the amount of $4,005 to be expended from the contingency fund for the jail shower floor repair proposal.

Bryan Ebling, director of emergency management, reported on the Y2K Preparedness Exercise conducted on July 22, 1999 that his department and corresponding agencies participated in along with the State of Maryland. Mr. Ebling said the purpose of exercise was to validate Y2K planning activities, test the County’s emergency management knowledge and capabilities, and to identify the strengths and weakness in the County’s emergency management system. The exercise began with a video simulation of December 31, 1999 in Australia. Simulated activities included: ATM failures; citizens calling requesting advice; power outages; public safety radio failures; telephone outages; fireworks explosions with injuries; motor vehicle accidents with injuries; critical facilities with power or backup generators; security alarms sounding; computers failing at the 911 Center; and looting. Mr. Ebling said the exercise was a success as it defined areas of need and improvement. Areas identified for improvement include: public affairs issues (i.e. citizens hotlines, dealing with media, activating Emergency Alert System, preparing and disseminating press releases); staffing issues; consideration of alternative communications methods in contingency plan; promotion of advance public awareness activities; inadequacy of the Emergency Operations Center; and identification and implementation of backup power for Emergency Management Administration office. Mr. Ebling said that he doesn’t anticipate power outages as he has been in contact with Connectiv and Choptank Electric. The following Y2K Preparedness Timeline was discussed:

Carl Burke, executive director of Upper Shore Aging, Inc., discussed with the Commissioners the FY 2000 Area Plan Update. Mr. Burke explained that every four years, USA submits an Area Plan which outlines how USA plans to serve the elderly in the area. There are only two areas in which the current Plan has been amended according to the FY 2000 Update. Those two areas are additional state funds in the approximate amount of $5,000 for the Vulnerable Elderly Programs Initiative (VEPI) which will address service shortcomings in the Public Guardianship and Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and additional state funds in the approximate amount of $27,000 for the Senior Care Program which will alleviate waiting lists for participants. On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners approved and signed the FY 2000 Area Plan Update to be submitted to the Maryland Department of Aging.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners approved and President Cole signed a letter to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development endorsing the application of the Denton Development Corporation for Neighborhood Revitalization funds to acquire property behind the Carter Block building, demolish several outbuildings and construct a parking facility to enhance the downtown area and support redevelopment of the Carter building.

Leigh Sands, executive assistant, reported that following a brief meeting with Dr. Larry Lorton, superintendent of schools, Caroline County Board of Education, it has been agreed that beginning Tuesday, October 5, Dr. Lorton and various Board and staff members will make 15-minute presentations on school system activities and concerns to the County Commissioners during the Commissioners’ regular meetings. This will be a standing appointment for the first and third Tuesdays, and will take place in open session. For day meetings, the appointment will be scheduled for 9:45 a.m. and for night meetings, at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Lorton and staff are ready to make presentations to the Education Study Commission whenever desired.

At 1:45 p.m., the Commissioners met with Senator Barbara Mikulski regarding the following issues, a summary of which follows:

1. Medicare Update – Local Area Concerns – Gloria Durham, Federalsburg, and Larry Burton, Choptank Community Health Care System, expressed concern regarding the issue of Medicare and the recent changes and the slow payments from Medicare. Senator Mikulski expressed concern with the Medicare HMO service pullout in Maryland where recently a major Medicare HMO decided to withdraw its Medicare HMO service in 17 Maryland counties. The HMO also wants to charge seniors in the six remaining counties an additional $50 per month premium. Senator Mikulski said that her office has been flooded with calls on this issue and she has spoken with President Clinton and asked for bipartisan leadership on the issue. Senator Mikulski advised that Senator Roth chairs the committee and assured that work on the issue is in progress. She advised that the Commissioners contact Senator Roth and get on the fall agenda. By November there should be a clear idea of where the issue is heading. Senator Mikulski said that the County health officers have been instrumental in providing the information needed. She said that seniors need to consider all of their options such as returning to the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program; or returning to traditional Medicare and buying a Medicare supplemental insurance plan that covers some deductibles and other expenses not paid for by Medicare; or enrolling in another Medicare HMO if one is available. Senator Mikulski will continue to work with Congress and the President to reform Medicare and to ensure Maryland seniors continue to have Medicare options including efforts to include prescription drug coverage in Medicare payments; to keep home health care benefits; and to ensure adequate reimbursements for nursing care and long-term care facilities.
2. North County Water and Sewer Project (Funding Assistance to Low Income Area) – Mr. Cawley described the project as the alternative to individually addressing the failing septic problems in northern Caroline County due to small lot sizes and high groundwater tables, which creates a potential for health hazards and environmental pollution. The project is a wastewater system for the towns of Goldsboro, Henderson, Marydel and Templeville. Mr. Cawley said that the project will benefit a population of approximately 1,000 and will cost approximately $12 million over a four-year period, which the Senator sees as a problem. Mr. Cawley said that the Commissioners will be pursuing funding from the USDA Federal Rural Development, State Water Quality, and Maryland Environmental Service. Catherine Piper-Stevenson, director, Maryland Environmental Service, said that MES is a service agency, however the Maryland Department of the Environment has only $3 million available statewide. The USDA Rural Development has only $2 million total for Maryland and Delaware. To date, verbal commitments total less than $500,000. Senator Mikulski and staff assistant Sean Smith will pursue some funding from the EPA contingent upon what funding Caroline County can obtain. Mr. Smith stated that state grants and state revolving funds are not available anymore. Senator Mikulski was provided a history of the project, however, she requested Mr. Cawley to provide her with a summary in layman’s terms rather than from a technical standpoint. She also suggested that Mr. Cawley and Helen Spinelli, economic development director, work with Mr. Smith in pursuing avenues of federal funding.
3. NASA-Sponsored Regional Technology Application Center (Start-Up Funding Assistance) – Mr. Cawley explained that Commissioner Prettyman is the Caroline representative on this committee, however, in his absence, said that the regional technology center is a great concept and needs to be regional with all five counties on board. Senator Mikulski said that Chesapeake College is the core and that Dr. Stuart Bounds, president of the college, is the chair for the Chesapeake Bay Center for Technical Excellence, and that Mr. Cawley should be in contact with him to ascertain where they are in the project. The role that the project will play is a hot spot for technology; therefore, they need to identify the source of federal funds and look further to NASA as the incubator.
4. Development of Technology Park Under One Maryland Program (Water and Sewer Funding Assistance; Telecommunications Assistance/FCC Approval) – In the absence of Helen Spinelli, economic development director, and Commissioner Prettyman, Mr. Cawley explained Caroline’s role in the One Maryland State Program. Through state legislation, Caroline County is one of the counties designated as economically depressed. Caroline is interested in developing a technology park in order to get the minimum wage in the area up to the address the problem. Helen Spinelli has submitted the One Maryland Strategic Plan for Caroline County which addresses the issue.
5. Development of Fiber Optics Local Government Network (Funding Assistance) - Jim McCormick, Caroline County computer technician, along with Robert Clendaniel, owner of a local computer business, expressed concern that for Internet access in the area as there is inadequate "pipeline" for access. The County needs a large data pipe. Senator Mikulski stated that there is a digital divide in the area of Internet access and three major elements: 1) universal service; 2) education for children kindergarten through graduation and the ability for adult education; and 3) the physical and technical infrastructure. She has spoken with Speaker Taylor on this and Senator Sarbanes has set up a meeting on the issue as well. Work is currently in progress, however the state needs to organize a technical program on what assistance is available. Maryland needs to be up to date and the One Maryland Program is a good coordinating house for this. She reiterated the need for universal service and the need to: 1) have Statewide goals; 2) a regional strategy; and 3) county-by-county plans. Mr. Clendaniel stated that his company has set up a meeting with the representatives of the Rural Electric Coop regarding an initiative of providing Internet access through electric. Senator Mikulski advised that Major Riddick, Governor’s Chief of Staff, is charged with bringing technology access to the State and that a joint meeting should be scheduled regarding the issue.
6. Federal Assistance for Drought-Stricken Farmers – Senator Mikulski said that Governor Glendening has asked for drought assistance, however, loans are not the answer for farmers. An agricultural bill has passed which has some drought assistance in it. She assured that Congress will pursue whatever the State requests. Price levels are killing farmers and there is a need to look at the whole spectrum of farming.
7. Bay-Related Issues – Site 104 – Senator Mikulski expressed her concern and disappointment with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for the placement of dredged materials from the Port of Baltimore at Site 104 in the Chesapeake Bay. She has asked the Assistant Secretary for Civil Works at the Pentagon to supervise the environmental review with the input of all appropriate federal agencies, as she feels the Corps of Engineers didn’t thoroughly perform the environmental study initially. She said that all options must be reviewed and the decisions should be based on sound bay science, sound economics and sound engineering.
8. Request for Continuation of Community Development Block Grant Program – President Cole stated that CDBG funds have been vital to our County and would like to see that funding continue to be available. Senator Mikulski stated that the CDBG Program allows for local control and local decision-making and provides maximum flexibility to solve local problems. She said that $6 billion in funding was available this past year and she would like to see it increased if the tax cuts are lifted.
9. Request for Loan Guarantee Assistance to Keith Anthony, USA Liberty Housing – Work is in progress on this issue with Helen Spinelli, economic development director.

Dorsey Wooters, County treasurer, presented to the Commissioners the investment report for July 1999.

There being no further business, the meeting of the County Commissioners adjourned by unanimous consent at 3:35 p.m.

Vivian L. Anders

County Commissioners Office Coordinator