BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR SOMERSET COUNTY 11916 Somerset Avenue Room 111/Meeting Room Princess Anne, MD 21853 August 13, 2024 2:00 p.m.  Appointment:  2:00 p.m. - Candy Brinsfield -3 35 Years Employee Service Recognition  2:05 p.m. - Jesse Drewer, Casey Goldsborough, DTCS  Sealed Bid Openings  Demo Services for the five airport hangars Special Rate for Vacant and Abandoned Property  Construction Services for CDBG Rehabilitation to Ewell Recreation Center House Bill 2 - Property Taxes- Authority of Counties to Establish a Subclass and Seta  CDBG Inspection Reimbursement Affidavit & Use ofMatch Funds Request for Release ofLien/30733 Division St - Rehabilitation Grant Department ofH Housing and Community Development re: FY25 Block Grant Funds Housing Rehabilitation Grant Amendment - Resolution Approval  2:20 p.m.- Carl L. Anderton, Jr. - Director of Rural trategy/Department of Commerce  Correspondence  Received:  Tri County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore re: Lower Shore Workforce Alliance Appointment  Ewell Volunteer Fire Company Inc. re: Tipping Fee Waiver Request  Sent:  Mike King re: Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board Appointment Laverne Stewart re: Planning Commission Reappointment  Public Comments: Members oft the audience who have signed up to address the Board will be permitted to 2:45 p.m. - Closed Session- Mr. Ernest Leatherbury, Ms. Jamie Manaia, Mr. Jesse Drewer Authority of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland $ 3-305 (b)(1) the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of an appointee, employee, or official over whom: it hasj jurisdiction.  do sO at this time and allotted 51 minutes.  Denotes Action Item    BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR SOMERSET COUNTY August 13, 2024  At 2:00 p.m., President Charles Laird called the Board of County Commissioners for Somerset Countyt to openi in Regular Session. Alsop present fort today'sr meeting were Vicel President Randy Laird, Commissioner Eldon Willing, and Commissioner Darryl Webster. Commissioner  Craig N. Mathies Sr., was absent from today's meeting.  Deputy Administrator Ernest J. Leatherbury Jr., and Executive Aidel Lory E. Ebron were  also present.  Closed Session Summary Report  On Tuesday, August 13, 2024 from 2:36 p.m., until 2:52 p.m., President Charles Laird, upon a motion made by Vice President Randy Laird, and seconded by Commissioner Darryl Webster opened in Closed Session by Authorityoft the General Provisions Articleoft the Annotated CodeofMaryland $3-305 (b)(1)tl the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of an appointee, employee, or official over whom itl has jurisdiction. Commissioner Eldon Willing voted ini favor, therefore by show ofhands the motion carried 4-0. Commissioner Craig Mathies was absent from  today's meeting.  Deputy County Administrator Ernest. J. Leatherbury Jr., Ms. Lory Ebron, Executive Aide, Mr.. Jesse Drewer, Director of DTCS and Ms.. Jamie Manaia, HR Director were also present. Topics discussed: (I) Planning and Zoning Specialist Hire. Topics Approved:(I) Approval  tol hire Planning and Zoning Specialist.  President Charles Laird asked Commissioner Willingt to leadt those present in Devotion and Mr. Leatherbury presented meeting minutes for approval regarding the Commissioner and Vice President Randy Laird made ai motion to approve the minutes from the. July 30, 2024 meetings as presented. Commissioner Willing seconded the motion. Bys show ofhands, the motion  the! Pledge of Allegiance.  Closed Session meetings held on. July 30,2024.  carried 4-0.  Mr. Leatherbury asked Ms. Candy Brinsfield to come forward to accept a certificate of  appreciation for her 35 years of dedicated service to Somerset County.    Boardo ofCommnissioners! Meeting 8-13-24  Mr. Jesse Drewer and Mr. Casey Goldsborough, Department ofTechnical: and Community First, President Charles Laird opened sealed bids received for the Airport Hangar  Services came forward. Demolition as follows: Contractor: Paul Landworks and Construction J&JYardworks Stevens Property Services AJ King Excavation William Gene Swift Southern Gentleman Construction  Bid Amount: $9,725.00 $6,000.00 $14,345.00 $14,850.00 $25,325.00 $24,795.00  Duet to the large variance in bid amounts, President Charles Laird requested that as part of theirr review, staffa ask thel low! bidders that they understoodi ther requirements oft thej job. Mr. Drewer  will return with his recommendation.  Next, President Charles Laird proceeded to open sealed bids received for the Ewell  Recreation and Community Center project (grant funded) as follows:  Contractor: Award Construction  Bid Amount/With Disposal Bid Amount/Without Disposal:  $70,950.00  $66,950.00 $83,190.00  Mike Hauck Construction $88,590.00  Mr. Drewer advised he would review the bids and return with a recommendation. Next, Mr. Drewer explained that in the 2024 Maryland General Assembly Session, Counties and the City of Baltimore gained the ability to establish by a law a special tax rate for vacant and abandoned property as passed with House Bill 2. He explained that this law dictates that vacant lots ori improved property cited as vacant and unfit for habitationl bya a buildingi inspector canl bes subject up to 2.51 times thei rate for real property taxes. Ifestablished on or before December lof each year, a report to DHCD must be submitted. Mr. Drewer recommended the Commissioners hold a Work Session to discuss the bill further. The Board was in consensus to  schedule a Work Session Meeting.  Mr. Drewer then explained that as a component of the CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program, sitei inspections for lead by third parties are completed per requirements. Due toj program changes, grant funds are not allowed to be used for lead testing. This change will automatically disqualify homes built before 1968, a majority of Somerset County housing stock. It was noted thata a $7,5001 match isi included each year, which is nots subject tol DHCD regulations and has been given CDBG approval from Ms. Cindy Stonet to be used for leadi inspecting purposes. Mr. Drewer  2    Board ofCommissioners! Meeting 8-13-24  then requested Board approval to begin using some of the match funds for testing purposes, previously costing $300 per test, but going forward with ai newi inspector, $125 per test. Vice President Randy Laird made ar motion to use matching funds for testing purposes and approval of the affidavit as presented. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. By show of  hands, ther motion carried 4-0.  Mr. Drewer presented a request for lien release regarding 30733 Division Street, Princess Anne. The ten (10) year grant, int the amount of$16,539.04 was used toi fundi repairs att the property  and expired on October 15, 2023.  Vice President Randy Laird made a motion to approve the lien release for 30733 Division Street as presented. Commissioner Willing seconded the motion. By show of hands, the motion  carried 4-0.  Mr. Drewer advised the Board that unfortunately, our FY25 CDBG Blight Removal Grant Funding request was denied, duet tot the extremely competitive rankings for this limited amount of funding. Mr. Drewer explained the ranking system, noting that his department will continue to  address blight properties with the locally administered nuisance programs.  Last, Mr. Drewer advised that thet ten-day comment period following the Public Hearing held regarding the FY22 Community Development Block Grant Amendment to subrecipient $50,000 of the County's Housing Rehabilitation grant funds expired on Friday, August 9, 2024 with no comments reçeived. He presented Resolution #1203 that is required to move forward formalizing the request. Additionally, he presented the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the President's signature that allows the projects for ramps and home accessibility in partnership with Chesapeake Housing mission to start following resolution approval. Attorney  Simpkins has found the MOU legally sufficient.  Commissioner Webster made a motion to approve Resolution #1203 as presented. Commissioner Willing seconded thei motion. Bys show of hands, the motion carried 4-0. President Charles Laird also signed the MOU as presented following the motion to approve the resolution.  Mr. Drewer left the meeting at thist time.  Mr. Leatherbury next asked Mr. Carl L. Anderton, Jr., Director of Rural Mr. Anderton explained that the Governor approached him about the opportunity, so that he can be the eyes and ears on the ground in the rural areas of the State. His purpose is to bring  Strategy/Department of Commerce to come forward.  3    Board ofd Commissioners! Meeting 8-13-24  economici ideas on the: front back tot the Governor directly, andt tos see what the State can do, which would include anyi issues the County may have with State agencies. Mr. Anderton stated he was excited to be able to represent his home county at thes state level and asked about areas where the county would like to move forward and/or hold the line, noting he would like to meet with administration monthly, mentioning meeting with Mr. Danny Thompson, Economic Development Commission (EDC) Director as well. He: stated he was here today toj provide a formali introduction and was looking forward to working with the Commissioners, staff and EDC regarding economic  development for Somerset County.  Vice President Randy Laird mentioned the new Industrial Park on Revels Neck Road, noting he's like to see businesses inj place there, with all noting the availability of natural gas. Commissioner Webster asked when the decision was made regarding this new position. Mr. Anderton replied a whilel back, about two weeks ago, with itr notedt that Barry Beauchamp will be replacing him in his former delegate position. It was also noted that this ist not a new position created byt the Governor, but rather ai reconfigured previous position. The upcoming Clam) Bakei in Crisfield was discussed, and in closing the passenger ferry was noted as being a wonderful idea that would promote tourism int the County and bring visitors tot the Crisfield andt the general county  area, Mr. Anderton left the meeting at this time.  Mr. Leatherbury continued with correspondence. and discussion items.  A letter was received from Tri County Council fort thel Lower Eastern Shore, Lower Shore Workforce Alliance division requesting the county's consideration to appoint Mandi McWirti to the Workforce Development Board (WDB). Currently Somerset County has 3 vacancies, withi it noted that Mr. David Galeone and Mr. Anthony Ward currently serving. Ms. McWhirt is the Director ofHuman! Resources at Sysco inl Pocomoke City. Her resume was provided for review. Commissioner Webster made a motion to appoint Ms. McWhirt to the WDB as presented. Vice President Randy Laird seconded the motion. By show ofhands the motion carried 4-0. Last, a letter was received from the Ewell Volunteer Fire Company request a waiver of tipping fees involved with the rehabilitation of the Ewell Recreation and Community Center  project. Mr. Evans noted that responsibility falls on the fire company.  Commissioner Webster made a motion to approve the landfill tipping fee waiver as requested by Mr. Evans of thel Ewell Volunteer Fire Company. Commissioner Willing seconded  the motion. By show ofhands, the motion carried 4-0.  4    Board ofCommissioners Mceting 8-13-24  Mr. Leatherbury then reviewed correspondence sent following the last commissioner meeting. There was no one in attendance asking to speak during the public comment portion of  the meeting.  Therefore, with no further business, at 2:36 p.m., the Board was advised of the need to enter into Closed Session by Authority of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland $3-305 (b)(1) the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of an appointee, employee, or official over whomi it! hasj jurisdiction. Vice President Randy Laird made a motion to enter into closed session. Commissioner Darryl Webster seconded the motion. Commissioner Eldon' Willing andl President Charles Laird votedi ini favor, therefore, bys show ofhands the motion  carried 4-0.  The Commissioner and Closed Session meetings concluded at 2:52 p.m.  Approved by:  Respectfully Submitted:  Byk2 Board of County For Somerset County  Commissioners  Ebron Lory E. Executive Aide  Sayg  5