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. LeGates, the Commissioners approved the minutes of May 5,1998. Vouchers #40470-40595 were approved for payment.

On motion by Mr. Cole, the following contingency fund expenditure was unanimously approved: $1,660.85 – Board of Education – reimbursement of feasibility study costs as previously approved.

The Commissioners conducted an advertised bid opening on project #CC-AM-51298, asphaltic materials, with the following bids publicly opened, read aloud and recorded:

Bids were referred to staff for evaluation.

On motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Myers signed purchase order #10364 to Impressive Printing Company in the amount of $2,331.35 – postage for required Board of Elections mailing.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Myers signed purchase order #10365 to Postmaster in the amount of $500 for return postage for required Board of Elections mailing.

The above two purchase orders are a clarification of the not-to-exceed approval granted at last week’s meeting. These expenditures will come from the unused portion of the voting machine maintenance fund of Board of Elections budget.

On motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Myers signed purchase order #11430 to Contech Construction, Inc. in the amount of $6,108.79 for pipe for construction of Choptank, Jones and Baker Roads.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Myers signed purchase order #11433 to George & Lynch, Inc. in the amount of $3,500 for milling machine and operator rental for Choptank Road.

On motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Myers signed purchase order #11707 to A. C. Shultes of Delaware, Inc. in the amount of $4,528 for three fuel and waste oil tank monitoring well installations at the public works yard as required by the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Dana Jarrell, supervisor of the Caroline County Department of Assessments and Taxation, discussed the property tax assessment and appeals process and distributed pamphlets. Districts 1, 2 and 7 (north county) were reassessed last year, with 5,022 reassessment notices mailed in December and January. Many properties had improvements, and there was an overall increase in value due to this and a general increase in market value due to the area’s proximity to Route 50, Queen Anne’s County, and Delaware urban centers. Caroline led the state with a 14.1% increase in assessable base since the last triennial reassessment. This, however, is not a rate that was applied to each property reassessed. Property owners are automatically notified of the four-level appeal process (local supervisor, Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board, Maryland Tax Court, Circuit Court or Court of Special Appeals). Appellants can have evening or Saturday local appointments to meet with the supervisor, and can obtain the worksheets on their own property, a list of sales data for their community, and can purchase the worksheets on comparable properties. If the property owner misses the 45-day appeal filing deadline, a petition can be filed by the end of the first business day after January 1 to open an appeal on taxes to be assessed for next July. Taxes can also be appealed within 60 days of purchase of property purchased in the first six months of the year. At the Circuit Court level, the inquiry becomes judicial instead of administrative, costs will be incurred for legal fees, and the legal focus will be on the question of fairness. About 630 appeals were filed last year, and 318 this year, the majority of which were residential properties. Typically only about 2% go to level two, the Appeals Board. Most property owners come in well-prepared, and walk out with a "handshake or a smile," with about one in three receiving some adjustment to their assessment. The public access terminal in the assessments office allows browsers to tap into assessment account data pertaining to all counties in the state, to search sales, UCC, personal property and corporate personal property data. This information can be accessed via home computers at www.data.state.md.us. Mr. Cawley commented that it is unfortunate that readers conclude that the County is receiving 14.1% more revenue overall when they read assessment increase stories in the newspaper, since the County’s actual increase over last year is 3.62%. This year districts 3,6 and 8 will be reassessed. If the value of new construction is less than $50,000, the property cannot be added to the tax roll until the year it is due to be reassessed.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved the cross-function budget transfers in the Chesapeake College current unrestricted general fund as requested by the College in its letter dated April 24, 1998.

Mr. Cawley reported that the jail may be overbudget due to an inmate hospitalized with a heart condition. Janice Davison, deputy county attorney, will check on the availability of Medicare and any other sources to reimburse the County for these health care costs.

On motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners approved a joint Memorandum of Agreement between the Chesapeake College participating counties and Chesapeake College establishing a Capital Technology Fund in the total amount of $860,000 and setting forth commitment levels for each county. Caroline’s is as follows: $163,400 that will be billed as follows: $54,467 on September 1, 1998; $54,467 plus accrued interest [projected $5,450] on September 1, 1999; and $54,466 plus accrued interest [projected $2,720] on September 1, 2000.

Mr. Cole reported that Eastern Shore counties attending the landfill meeting hosted by Dorchester County expressed a desire to work regionally on landfill issues including adequate tonnage to support facility operations. The next meeting will be at the public works directors level. Dorchester will be using stacks to burn off methane at Beulah.

Dorsey Wooters, county treasurer, gave the April 1998 investment report.

Mary Newcomb and Tracy Lusby, Caroline County Humane Society, Inc., presented and discussed the proposed new facility plan drafted by Pamela Gardner, AIA, for the Belle Street, Ridgely shelter location. Estimates will soon be received. Phase I will emphasize animal care and confinement areas, with special emphasis on disease control. A larger administrative space will be addressed later when the existing building is renovated. There will be 20 runs with four-foot fencing. The Society has received its second year of grant funding for a neutering program available to low-income pet owners, and is the first county in the region to seek these funds. Wildlife rehab with volunteer assistance is being looked into as a possible future role. Newcomb feels the image of animal care services in the county has significantly improved. Regarding the proposed budget, the Society hopes to occupy the new building in January, and would really need about $30,000 more ($109,500 over 12 months) in order to be functional. Among other things, a facility/program director must be hired to relieve the burden on volunteers Newcomb and Lusby. Mr. Cawley said the Commissioners would consider adding these funds to the County animal control budget which could then be accessed by the Society when the building is completed.

The Commissioners met with Becky Loukides and Elke Kirk, Caroline County health department, regarding the FY 1998-99 proposed budget allocation. Dr. Grant is "disappointed and frustrated" with the amount, said Loukides, since historically he has never asked for more than he needs, and if the amount is not increased, he will lose two positions. Following further discussion, and on motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously concurred with Mr. Cawley’s recommendation that anticipated health department current year surplus funds not to exceed $50,000 be forward-funded into the department’s FY 1998-99 budget to accommodate its needs.

Mr. Cawley notified the Commissioners that Queen Anne’s County is willing to match Caroline’s allocation, not to exceed $27,443, for repair of the Long Marsh Public Drainage Association ditch system. This will need to be discussed further since there is no proposed funding for the ditch in the CIP budget.

The Commissioners reviewed four options for FY 1998-99 funding of employee health care costs. On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously concurred with the recommendation of the Personnel Review Board to select Option #4 – Implement an Employer Share – 100% Individual, 85% Dependent, which eliminates the specific dollar contribution amount for each category.

The Commissioners met with Betsey Krempasky and Chuck Emerson, health and public service building committee members, and after discussion agreed upon the following by unanimous consent:

1. The official name of the building shall be "Caroline County Health and Public Services," to be followed by "building," "center," or nothing, at the discretion of the committee.
2. The Commissioners will provide comment on the draft of the building plaque content, but agreed that Earl Cohee’s name should be included.
3. Mr. Emerson will bring back figures on installation of three lighted flagpoles (only one is presently in the plans), with preferably 4 x 6 flags.

After presentation by Chuck Emerson, and on motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners unanimously approved the following health and public service building change orders:

Janice Davison gave a brief update on the Dashiell case appeal.

On behalf of the Caroline County Bar Association, Ms. Davison requested an allocation for the Bar Library, which was not requested by Judge Wise. The Bar plans to weed the collection, which may reduce it by about two-thirds.

On motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Myers signed a letter to the Governor urging veto of House Bill 585, personal property tax, which the County attorney, County treasurer and MACo feel will adversely affect the lien position of local governments.

The Commissioners conducted a budget workshop in open session.

On motion of Mr. Cole and seconded by Mr. LeGates, the Board of Estimates submitted the proposed FY 1998-99 operating budget to the County Commissioners, in accordance with the new budget law. This budget will be the subject of the May 14^th budget hearing.

President Myers went on record as opposed to the proposed budget, stating that she is not in favor of the four-cent real property tax cut on which it is predicated, which she feels the County cannot afford; that she is not in favor of simply funding maintenance of effort for the Board of Education budget since Caroline’s per-pupil funding is already one of the lowest in the state. She supports maintaining the current tax rate and beginning additional funding of the Board of Education budget (pending review of revenues) with $200,000 over and above maintenance of effort.

The Commissioners discussed the draft budget message/budget overview with Mr. Cawley and requested certain refinements.

The Commissioners discussed the salary information submitted by the Board of Education in response to the Commissioners’ request. Rather than a payroll document showing information for each of the Board positions, selected and summary information was submitted. Mr. Cole said he wants to see current and proposed salary information for all Board of Education employees, including Administration, by job title and department. The Board will be informed in writing of the Commissioners’ request.

The proposed budget will not be altered until the June 2^nd public hearing, at which time amendments can be considered if desired.

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

Leigh Sands

Executive Assistant