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. Prettyman, the minutes of April 6, 1999 were approved. Vouchers #45664 – #45663 were approved for payment.

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

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Cole signed Provident Lease Corporation Acceptance Certificate No. 8 for acquisition of computer equipment for Emergency Management from CDW Government, Inc., in the amount of $2,385.30.

Donna Brinsfield, director of Cooperation Extension Services, accompanied by staff members, Jennifer Sawtelle, 4-H Programs, Sherman Councell, nutrient management, Howard Callahan, nutrient management, and Jim Lewis, extension agent-agriculture and natural resources, presented the FY 1999-2000 budget request in the amount of $98,666, a 5% increase over the current year’s appropriation. Ms. Brinsfield advised that their budget request reflects no new staff positions, however, an increase due to rent for office space. Programs sponsored by Cooperative Extension include:

• Maintain County budget - .2% increase
• Reduction of one summer 4-H program assistant.
• Decreased travel expenses.
• No capital purchases.
• No temporary office help.
• Rent Increase of 65% - $7,290 to $12,000
• Increased telephone expenses.
• 5.5% salary increases (3% COLA + 2.5% merit)

Jim Lewis presented the FY 1999-2000 Caroline County 4-H Park Board budget request in the amount of $15,000. Mr. Lewis said there are no major changes except that Maryland 4-H Foundation will be providing approximately $100,000 to construct a replacement of the old barn. The replacement building should reduce costs of operating the main building and increase revenue in the future. The 4-H Horse Club received $4,000 in donations to buy a horse stall for the park, in which the Park Board will add $2,800 to purchase the stalls.

Donna Brinsfield recognized and presented certificates to the following volunteers that participated in the 18-hour financial counseling course to become volunteer financial counselors: Jennifer Blunt, Jean Shaffer, Charles McCaslin, Peter Taillie, Howard Reardon, Sara Exley, Gail Litz, Ann Shuler, Vickie Taylor and Frank Wolff. The Commissioners commended those participants in attendance for their spirit of volunteerism and dedication to the community in helping others.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and signed an Agricultural Land Lease Agreement between the County Commissioners and Freeman "Chip" B. Blackwell, Jr., for the rental of 28.3 tillable acres at $45 per tillable acre, on the southwest side of the 4-H & Youth Park, Detour Road, for the 1999 calendar year; and directed staff to prepare a letter to the tenant stating the intent of the Commissioners to solicit bids for the following year if the property is to be farmed.

Dorsey Wooters, County treasurer, gave the Commissioners the monthly investment report for March 1999.

Dorsey Wooters, County treasurer, discussed with the Commissioners the requirements of the semi-annual tax law, Section 10-204.3 of the Tax-Property Article. The provisions require that the taxing authority must notify annually property owners through a newspaper advertisement or written notice of the availability of the semi-annual payment plan option. The local taxing authority must provide to the Department of Assessments and Taxation by May 1 of each year, information that substantiates that the proposed service charge for the lost interest is reasonably equivalent to the interest that will be lost as a result of the semi-annual property tax payment. On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously established a 5% annual service fee for the lost interest, as recommended by Mr. Wooters.

The Commissioners discussed a letter from the Caroline County Board of Education regarding revisions to the FY 1997 and FY 1999 General Building Fund Budgets requesting expenditure of unexpended approved FY 1997 funds on other school projects. The local costs of the Colonel Richards Middle School roof replacement project and the renovation and addition to the Ridgely Elementary School were budgeted in FY 1997 and funded through a general obligation bond secured by the County Commissioners. The Ridgely Elementary project was completed in FY 1999, leaving an unexpended balance of $160,959.68. The Colonel Richardson Middle project will be completed by May 1999. According to provisions established by the state, the bond funds must be spent by May 1, 1999 on school construction projects. On motion by Mr. Prettyman, the Commissioners unanimously authorized the request of the Caroline County Board of Education to expend the unexpended FY 1997 funds on the following school projects:

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously authorized President Cole’s signature on a congratulatory letter to Dr. Larry Lorton as incoming superintendent of schools for Caroline County.

Mary Newcomb, president, Caroline County Humane Society, accompanied by Tracy Lusby, treasurer and Glenn Usilton, animal services director, presented the FY 1999-2000 budget request in the amount of $25,000. Ms. Lusby said that the humane society’s budget is presented as a separate entity from animal control since they have not been combined into one entity. The humane society’s primary function is the prevention of cruelty and abuse of animals in the county. The society responds to every phone call received by their office, therefore, the major expenses are for telephone and other office-related expenses. A work van was recently purchased and renovated to facilitate investigations. The major source of funding for FY 2000 will be from tax dollars (54%); secondary funding comes from various fundraisers, membership dues and donations. Currently the dog-licensing program is only generating approximately $650 per year, however, it is anticipated that an increase in the enforcement of dog licensing laws once the new facility is open and the proposed update to the animal control ordinance is enacted. The society continues to officer low cost spay and neuter clinics to citizens through a grant from the William Snyder Foundation for Animals. Ms. Newcomb updated the Commissioners on the new facility for the Humane Society/Animal Control in Ridgely, stating that formal approval has been received from USDA Rural Development for a loan of $208,000 and a grant of $50,000. The architect has completed the construction documents and will be soliciting bids for construction in the near future.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved transferring the remaining funds from the Caroline County Committee for Maryland Heritage 350 for sale of heritage books in the amount of $145 to the Caroline County Historical Society.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Cole signed the Emergency and Transitional Housing and Services (ETHS) and the Homelessness Prevention (HPP) Programs Grant Renewal Contract administered by the Caroline County Department of Social Services with grant funding to remain at the current level.

On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and President Cole signed the FY 2000-2001 Service-Linked Housing Grant application sponsored by the Department of Human Resources, Community Services Administration. The program is administered by Interfaith Housing Development Corporation, which provides a housing counselor who makes available support services to stabilize families and help them become self-sufficient in order to prevent eviction and reduces the number of families recycling into homelessness.

Kathy Hultquist, incoming president, Caroline County Council of Arts, Inc., accompanied by Jeff Nuttle, current president, and Barbara Barrielle, administrative assistant, presented the FY 1999-2000 budget request in the amount of $6,000. The Arts Council continues its mission to serve the citizens of the County by funding arts programs presented by other organizations, bringing arts into the schools and creating arts programs. Outside of Arts-In-Education (AIE), which reaches hundreds of children, CCCA reaches audiences totaling over 15,000 Caroline County residents as well as people residing in neighboring counties. In FY 1999, CCCA presented or supported the following programs:

• The Caroline County Fair - Grant for performing artists
• Summerfest 1998 – Arts Council is the largest source of funds for this event
• Art Classes by Betty Wise – Teaches varied participants to paint
• Kaleidoscope Summer Camp - Scholarships for Caroline County children
• Recreation and Parks – Various arts programs
• Second Story Coffeehouse – Growing program – great talent
• Salisbury Symphony - Christmas Concert
• Carnival in Caroline – Series of four varied performances
• Clover Cultural Center – Increased funding for classes

The FY 2000 budget request reflects increased funding to local arts organizations such as Clover Cultural Center; expanded Arts In Education (AIE) focus, aiding schools to bring in additional programming; more original arts programming such as the Second Story Coffeehouse; and continued exploration of ways to bring arts to the under-served population.

Berl Lovelace, judicial assistant, accompanied by Sandy Wood, judge’s secretary, and Annette Smith, court reporter, presented the FY 1999-2000 budget request for Circuit Court in the amount of $118,553, a 23% increase over the current year’s appropriation. Mr. Lovelace reiterated the fact that the caseload has increased three fold since 1982. The Circuit Court budget request reflects the inclusion of two new positions, law clerk and clerk typist II. Caroline County is the only court in the State that doesn’t have a law clerk on staff in the Circuit Court. In 1990, due to budget cuts, the position was deleted. Since that time, staff has been assigned some of the tasks however, they are not trained in the area of expertise. With an incoming judge in the future, the position of law clerk is desperately needed. Mr. Lovelace briefly outlined the capital budget requests, which include a copier and computers.

The Commissioners met with Sister Patricia Gamgort, Director; and Sis Weippert, assistant, St. Martin’s Ministries, regarding continuation of the Emergency Shelter Grant. Sister Gamgort advised that St. Martin’s Ministries provides a range of services for families in crisis in Caroline County under the auspices of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Gertrude’s Monastery which provides food, clothing, and financial assistance for needy families. Financial assistance takes the form of first month’s rent or security deposit, temporary shelter, money for essential medical needs such as prescriptions and heating fuel. A second program of St. Martin’s Ministries is a transition housing facility, St. Martin’s House, for homeless women and their children. The staff provides counseling and training in skills such as parenting, financial management and budgeting. Families are assisted in finding permanent housing and follow-up services are provided to continue assisting those families as needed. On motion by Mr. LeGates, the Commissioners unanimously approved and signed grant documents and a letter to Glenda Keel, Emergency Shelter Grant Program Administration, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, endorsing the continuation of the FY 1999 Emergency Shelter Grant Application submitted on behalf of St. Martin’s Ministries for $60,000 in grant funds.

Betsey Krempasky, County planner, presented the FY 1999-2000 budget request for the Caroline County Planning and Codes Department in the amount of $410,856, an increase of $38,660 over the current year’s appropriation. The Department of Planning and Codes Administration identifies and plans for the appropriate scale, type and location for the County’s future residential growth, public facilities and economic development while working to preserve agricultural industry and natural resources; and implements and enforces land development, building construction and licensing regulations. The department is divided into codes administration (57%), planning (17%), agricultural land preservation (11%), alcoholic beverage licensing (10%), and licensing (5%). Revenue generated from fees constitutes 48% of the department’s budget, with the remaining 52% from the County’s general fund. Ms. Krempasky advised that their budget request reflects no additional staff and no major increases other than the rent for office space at the new Health and Public Services Building.

• Implementation of a full building code in FY 2000.
• Staff training to utilize new computer equipment and software will continue to be essential. E-mail capabilities were delayed due to the relocation to the new building.
• Coordination with State and Federal efforts to assure an accurate count for the 2000 U.S. Census.
• Caroline County has the second most active Agricultural Land Preservation Program in the State and ranks seventh largest in the country. Caroline County has 274 district properties that total 37,548 acres and 145 properties under permanent easement that total 20,266 acres.
• Approval of the County’s 1998 Regional Rural Legacy Program will allow approximately 650 acres to be permanently preserved. Grant awards for the 1999 Rural Legacy Applications with Talbot and Dorchester Counties will be awarded in May 1999 by the State.
• Coordination with the newly-created Burial Sites Advisory Board to establish rules and regulations to protect County burial sites.
• In FY 2000, the County Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan will be updated to facilitate the planning for the proposed North County Water and Sewerage System and for designation of priority funding areas.
• The Planning Commission will be working on an update of the County’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
• Investigation of adopting a local Forest Conservation Program that is self-supporting.
• Expansion of available technologies by using the Geographic Information System (GIS).

• Salaries – Temporary – Increase to allow a full-time summer intern
• Advertising – Currently legal notices are published only in the Times-Record newspaper. The increase will allow additional publication in the Star Democrat newspaper.
• Central Duplication – Increase to reflect actual expenditures.
• Legal Services – Increase to cover actual estimated expenditures.
• Operation of Autos – Anticipation of more service needed as vehicles age.
• Office Supplies – Increase to reflect copier paper cost now billed to department.
• Rent – New item due to office relocation at the Health and Public Services Building.

The Commissioners agreed to meet with the Caroline County Board of Education at their regular meeting of May 11^th, for one hour, to learn more about their budget.

The Commissioners announced that the next public budget hearing/open house is scheduled for this Thursday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., at Denton Elementary School cafetorium to hear testimony on Chesapeake College, Library and Board of Education budgets.

There being no further business, the meeting of the County Commissioners was adjourned by unanimous consent at 12:07 p.m.

Vivian L. Anders

County Commissioners Office Coordinator