October 6, 1998
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.
Attending:
Margaret R. Myers, President
John S. LeGates, Vice President
John W. Cole, Member
Charles C. Cawley, County Administrator
On motion by Mr. Cole, the minutes of September 29, 1998, were approved. Vouchers #42708 - #42883 were approved for payment. Biweekly direct payroll was approved for release.
Mr. Cawley introduced James McCormick, hired as of November 1 to be the fulltime technical support staff person to manage the County computer system.
The Commissioners conducted the advertised bid opening for project #CC-CT-10698, health department adult day care program tables and chairs, with the following bids being publicly opened read aloud and recorded:
Bidder $ Bid
Adirondack Company NO BID
Price Modern, Inc. 91.80 - 48" table
CFC, Inc. 117.18 - 48" table
Bids were referred to staff for evaluation.
On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved the following contingency fund expenditures for transcripts and filing fees resulting from successful appeals in the Court of Appeals:
Lawrence S. Greenberg $ 618.30 - G. Merkel
Office of Public Defender $2,222.50 – R. Sedgewick
$ 350.00 – T. Harcum
$1,097.50 – T. Harcum
Court of Special Appeals $ 50.00 – Filing fee
On the individual motions indicated, the following purchase orders were unanimously approved and signed by President Myers:
#13470 - Robert Leadbeater – NTE $2,800 - painting Courthouse offices (LeGates);
#13471 - Startech Communications - $2,708 - payphones for Courthouse and
health and public services building (LeGates);
#13472 - Redland Genstar, Inc. - $18,327 - repaving 7th Street, Denton (LeGates);
#13473 - Evey’s Inc. - NTE $550 - installation of wiring at health and public
services building (Cole);
#13475 - Startech Communications - $2,254.30 - battery backup for power
interruption protection of computer and telephone systems at health and public service building (Cole);
#13476 - O. E. Breeding & Sons, Inc. - $22,194 - 7,398 cubic yards of select
gravel for general County overlay program (LeGates);
#13479 - Redland Genstar, Inc. - $48,063 - hot mix asphalt for Richardson Road
(LeGates);
#13486 - Ellipse Builders, Inc. - NTE $1,705 - interior repairs to animal control
facility, Ridgely (Cole).
On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously issued a proclamation declaring October 5-11, 1998 as National 4-H Week in Caroline County, as presented by Maggie Rogers, Cooperative Extension, and Matt Curran, 4-H participant.
As requested by Bobby Schoonover and the ALS Board, the Commissioners unanimously approved and signed Agreement for Mutual Aid for the Provision of Emergency Advanced Life Support Services Between Caroline County, Maryland Department of Advanced Life Support and Hurlock Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
Bobby Schoonover, ALS/BLS coordinator, accompanied by Bryan Ebling, gave an audiovisual presentation accompanied by written summary of a proposed plan to correct the increasingly poor daytime ambulance response rate in the county. The following plan, which has been approved by all volunteer fire companies except Goldsboro and Queen Anne-Hillsboro, are recommended:
Implement a voluntary ambulance subscription plan costing $40 annually per households in the county, which would cover the cost of one or more runs;
Using estimated revenue in the amount of $120,000 from 3,000 household subscribers, hire 6 emergency medical technicians to increase daytime coverage from five days to six.
Schoonover stated that this will not solve the nighttime coverage problem, and that there is a possibility that the subscription plan will not generate enough revenue to cover the added personnel costs, in which case the additional EMT’s would have to be discharged if other revenue sources could not be identified. He will be approaching the Commissioners in the near future regarding request for approval of this plan.
On motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners unanimously approved and signed the FY 1999 Rental Allowance Program Local Program Application in the amount of $28,390 submitted by the Maryland Rural Development Corporation, program administrator.
Sue Simmons presented the Town of Denton’s proposed plan for Wheeler Park, 3.66 acres on the Choptank River across from Lockerman Middle School. The Town hopes to obtain funds from the Bay Access program for purchase. Neighboring residents have been informed of the Town’s intentions and commented on the plan. The Town and County will be working on potential greenway linkages.
The Commissioners reviewed a draft resolution regarding a water distribution and wastewater collection and treatment system for north Caroline County, which states that the County will initiate requests for grant funding for this system. HUD will not allocate funds to individual towns. The north county Towns are signing similar resolutions.
The Commissioners approved and President Myers signed letters of appreciation to the ad hoc Tourism Organizational Committee, which has completed its task.
Mr. Cawley mentioned the request of Upper Shore Aging for the Commissioners to appoint a Commission on Aging so it could be represented on the USA board. He mentioned he is looking into postage use tracking.
On motion by Mr. Cole, the Commissioners unanimously approved and signed the revised Amendment to Operating Agreement with ARAMARK Correctional Services, Inc., for food services to the County jail for a four-year period from October 1, 1998 through September 30, 2002.
At 11:30 AM, and as authorized by 1995 Maryland Code, State Government 10-508(a)(3) and (7); and (a)(1) respectively, as amended, the Commissioners, on motion by Mr. LeGates, seconded by Mr. Cole, unanimously adjourned into closed session to discuss with the deputy County attorney and Mr. Cawley potential recreational real property acquisition; and the County administrator contract.
The meeting reconvened in open session at 12:20 PM.
President Myers reported that in closed session the Commissioners authorized the County administrator and the deputy County attorney to meet with the property owner to obtain information regarding potential acquisition of recreational property, and authorized the County administrator to work with the deputy County attorney to develop a proposed employment contract for review by the Commissioners.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.
Leigh Sands
Executive Assistant