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

John S. LeGates, Member

Charles C. Cawley, County Administrator

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the minutes of August 17, 1999 were approved. Vouchers #47830 – #47931 were approved for payment. Bi-weekly direct payroll was approved for release.

President Cole acknowledged the success of the 11^th Annual Caroline County Summerfest festivities that were held on Friday, August 20^th and Saturday, August 21^st and commended those involved in its implementation and operation for a job well done.

President Cole stated that he, the Commissioners, Mr. Cawley and Ms. Sands attended the 49^th Maryland Association of Counties Summer Conference in Ocean City, Maryland last week and that it was very educational.

The Commissioners conducted an advertised bid opening for project #CC-GD-82499, fuels. The following bids received were publicly opened, read aloud and recorded:

Tri-Gas & Oil Company, Inc.

Federalsburg, Maryland $ 159,299.00

Wise Oil & Fuel Company, Inc.

Cambridge, Maryland $ 159,843.90

The bids were referred to staff for evaluation.

On individual motions indicated, the following purchase orders were unanimously approved and signed:

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and signed an accounting office transfer request to transfer $77,089.82 from the capital improvement fund to the general fund for reimbursement of FY 1999 approved bond improvement projects for the Board of Education.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners unanimously approved the following contingency fund expenditure: $105 – Livingston Parish – reimbursement of costs for holding Michael Jester on a warrant issued by Caroline County.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners unanimously accepted the option year agreement of Sharp Energy for project #CC-PC-9198, propane gas, as presented by Marvin MacDonald, purchasing officer.

Bill Clyde, director of the Upper Shore Economic Development Partnership (USEDP), accompanied by Ed Richards, Institute for Governmental Service consultant, met with the Commissioners regarding the Regional Economic Development Planning Workshop scheduled for September 23^rd. Mr. Clyde said the purpose of the workshop is to bring together public officials and community representatives to discuss the advantages and opportunities of a regional economic development plan; to review and comment on the priorities of the Partnership; and to develop suggestions for strengthening the region’s economic standing through the efforts of the Partnership. Mr. Clyde provided the Commissioners a brief update of USEDP events and projects, a summary of which follows:

• USEDP has a new executive board and has had four meetings to date and will be developing the direction of the Partnership.
• USEDP is currently working on a marketing project which is a direct mailing campaign. The campaign consists of four cards to be sent out in the community. The third card is soon to be sent out and will follow-up with marketing phone calls. Upon completion of the campaign, Mr. Clyde will forward a complete report to the Commissioners.
• A pocket folder, a new product produced locally by a graphics designer, was distributed to the Commissioners. The marketing committee developed the idea and the cost per unit is approximately $3.32 each, which is below the average cost for such a publication.
• An on-going project, the publication of the Business Ledger by Chesapeake Publishing, will be updated this year. The publication is a magazine-sized booklet distributed to 5,000 business leaders on the Shore. Mr. Clyde receives an additional 5,000 for distribution at trade shows and events. The publication gives statistics about the region and builds awareness of the Partnership.
• No other new initiatives will be implemented until after the Regional Economic Development Workshop.

Mr. Clyde distributed to the Commissioners a tentative agenda for the Workshop. Mr. Richards said that IGS is currently doing some studies for Caroline County in order to promote regional economic development on the Eastern Shore. One reason for the Workshop is to ascertain if the Partnership is the appropriate body to promote economic development and receive Federal and State funds. Mr. Richards stated that the ultimate goal would be to become a regional organization in order to receive Federal funding and to designate the direction of economic development for the region. Helen Spinelli, economic development director, stated that it is hoped that the Partnership can define a set of goals and an action plan, and pursue the ideas developed with the legislature.

Cindy Towers, risk management/emergency planning coordinator, accompanied by Bryan Ebling, director of Emergency Management, introduced Injured Workers’ Insurance Fund (IWIF) representatives Joan Brown Dodge, loss control consultant; Charman Kelly, marketing; Alan Wicker, underwriter; and Charlotte Mackon, claims adjuster. Ms. Dodge presented a dividend check in the amount of $11,046 to Caroline County for its outstanding accident loss record. Ms. Dodge commended Ms. Towers for her timely preparation of paperwork required by IWIF and for her outstanding management of the program which has significantly contributed to a safe working environment for employees.

Sergeant William Davis, Caroline County Sheriff’s Department, accompanied by Advisory Board members Debbie Williams, Wayne Riley, Chris Jensen, Bill Allen and Joe Gasser, met with the Commissioners regarding the a federal Bureau of Justice Grant. Sergeant Davis stated that he is preparing a grant application from the Bureau for $14,400. The grant funds will enable replacement of 25 side arms for the Sheriff’s Department, which are 15 years old. The grant program requires a 10% local match. The matching funds were budgeted in the capital improvement program, however, trade-ins of the old side arms and equipment will offset the match. Sergeant Davis explained that the grant requires the establishment of an Advisory Board to provide advice on how the grant funds are spent. An additional grant requirement is adoption of a policy providing health insurance by the local governing body to emergency personnel if they are injured to a degree that they are required to retire while responding to an emergency. Sergeant Davis said that the issue was discussed with the Commissioners last year, but because the policy was not adopted, each grant awarded to the County is penalized 10%. Following discussion by the Commissioners and on motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and signed the following resolution:

A public safety officer is "an individual serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or rescue squad or ambulance crew";

The Sheriff of Caroline County is the recipient of federal Local Law Enforcement Block Grant funds; and

The federal Public Safety Officers’ Health Benefits Provision of §615 of the Fiscal Year 1998 Appropriations Act stipulates that a unit of local government eligible for such funds will not receive full benefits unless it is in compliance with regulations for public safety officers’ health benefits;

THEREFORE, in order to receive full benefits from such grant programs, it is hereby resolved by the County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland, that for those public safety officers for whom the County provides health insurance, in the event that a public safety officer retires or is separated from service as a direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty while responding to an emergency situation or in a hot pursuit (as defined by State law), the County shall continue to provide the public safety officer with the same or higher level of health insurance benefits as the officer received at the time of retirement or separation.

FURTHER RESOLVED, that this provision shall be effective immediately, and shall be in effect for any period within which the County or the Office of the Sheriff of Caroline County has applied for a grant, or is the recipient of grant funds received from a grant which requires that such a provision be in place.

ADOPTED/EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 24, 1999 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF

CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and signed the Employment Agreement between the County Commissioners and Charles Cawley, county administrator, for a term retroactive to July 1, 1999 until June 30, 2003. The Agreement has been under discussion for several months.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously appointed the following persons to serve on the Caroline County Human Services Council for a term of three years retroactive to July 1, 1999: John Cole, Commissioner representative; Sandy Barry and Margaret Myers, community representatives.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and signed a letter to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development transferring to the Community Development Administration for use in issuing housing bonds on behalf of Caroline County, $521,185 of its total $521,185 tax-exempt housing bond allocation. These state funds will be used to run the Mortgage Purchase Program in the county, as has been done in previous years.

On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners unanimously authorized Sue Simmons, director of recreation and parks, to proceed in obtaining a second appraisal on the proposed property for a potential south county recreational park. The appraisal will include soils evaluation as well.

President Cole acknowledged and commended those Caroline County youths that have earned State titles this season in baseball and softball. The teams are the Denton Little League, Caroline County South Girls Softball Junior League, and Caroline County South Boys Junior League. On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously authorized an ice cream social to be held at the 4-H and Youth Park in September, and the display of team pictures for the month of September in the Courthouse lobby in recognition of those Caroline County youths that participated in the State championships.

It was noted that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ridgely Athletic Field is scheduled for Thursday, August 26^th at 4 p.m.

There being no further business, the meeting of the County Commissioners adjourned by unanimous consent at 11:10 a.m.

Vivian L. Anders

County Commissioners Office Coordinator