BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR SOMERSET COUNTY 11916 Somerset Avenue Room 111/Meeting Room Princess Anne, MD 21853 September 10, 2024 2:00 p.m.  Appointment:  2:00 p.m. - Ms. Yvette Cross, Director 2:10 p.m. - Warden Keith Muir  Pharmacy MOU's  Somerset County Detention Center and University of Maryland Opioid Use Disorder  Telemedicine Treatment Initiative  2:20p.m. - Mr. Charles Cavanaugh, Director Solid Waste and Maint., and Mr.. John Redden, County Engineer 2:30 p.m. - Mr. Clint Sterling, Director Rec & Parks/Tourism and Mr. John Redden, County Engineer  Deal Island/Chance Transfer Station Design Contract ARPAI Reallocation/Athletic Complex Expansion project  2:40 p.m. - Mr. Ronnie Dryden  Eastern Correctional Institution  Correspondence  Sent:  Dr.. Ava Tasker-Mitchell re: Final Inter-category FY24 Budget Transfers  Rachael Mason re: Boat Slip Sublease Requests  Discussion  1. Proclamation Request (1) do SO at this time and allotted 51 minutes. Charles Cavanaugh, Mr. Scott Sturgis  Public Comments: Members oft the audience who have signed up to address the Board will bej permitted to 3:30 p.m. - Closed Session- Mr. Ernest Leatherbury, Ms. Jamie Manaia, Mr. John Redden, Mr. Authority oft the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code ofl 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; and (3) consider the acquisition ofr real property for a public purpose and matters directly related to the acquisition.  Denotes Action Item    BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR SOMERSET COUNTY September 10,2024  At 2:00 p.m., President Charles Laird called the Board of County Commissioners for Somerset County to open in Regular Session. Also present for today's meeting Vice President Randy Laird, Commissioner Eldon Willing, Commissioner Craig N. Mathies Sr., and  Commissioner Webster. also present.  Deputy Administrator Emest J. Leatherbury Jr., and Executive. Aidel Lory E. Ebron were  Closed Session Summary Report  OnTuesday, September 10, 2024: from 3:25 p.m., until 3:52p.m., President Charles Laird, upon a motion made by Commissioner Eldon Willing, and seconded by Commissioner Darryl Webster opened in Closed Session by Authority of the General Provisions Article ofthe Annotated CodeofMaryland $3-305(b)(1)t thes appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of an appointee, employee, or official over whomi ith hasj jurisdiction; and (3) consider the acquisition ofreal property forap public purpose andi matters directly relatedt toi the acquisition. Craig N. Mathies, Sr., and Vice  President Randy! Laird voted ini favor, therefore the motion carried 5-0.  Deputy County Administrator Ernest J.1 Leatherbury Jr., Ms. Lory Ebron, Executive Aide, Mr. Scott Sturges, Dog Control Director, Ms. Jamie Manaia, HR Director, Charles Cavanaugh, Director ofs Solid Waste and Maintenance, and Warden Muir were also present.  Topics discussed: (1) Probationary tol Permanent Employee Status, (2) Hire Dog Control Officer I3) Mitigation. Topics Approved: (1) Approval to move promotional probationary employee toj permanent employee status (2). Approval tol hire Dog Control Officer I.  President Charles Laird asked Commissioner Willing tol lead those present in] Devotion: and Mr. Leatherbury: presented meeting minutes for approval regarding the Commissioner and Vice President Randy Laird made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 27, 2024 as presented. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. By show of hands, the motion  thel Pledge of Allegiance.  Closed Session meetings held on August 27,20241 meetings.  carried 5-0.    Boardo ofCommissioners' Meeting9 9-10-24  Ms. Yvette Cross, Emergency Services Director presented 5-year Memorandums of Agreement (MOA)between Somerset County andt thei followingpharmacy'sa and veterinary offices int the county listed below top provide prescription: needs for evacuees who do not! have an adequate supply of medication to last the duration of their or their pets stay at a shelter during an event. Previously approved in 2019, thel MOA'sr need tol bei renewed for another 5-year period. Shet noted that Somerset County agrees to reimburse should they be unable to collect payment from the  evacuee.  Layfield Veterinary Somerset Animal Hospital Veterinary Crisfield Discount. Pharmacy Chesapeake Health] Pharmacy Applel Drugs Marion Pharmacy Karemore Pharmacy  Ms. Cross advised that Attorney Simpkins has reviewed thel MOA's andi found them legally Commissioner Mathies madea a motion to authorize thel President'ss signature ont thel MOA's as presented. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. By show of! hands, the motion carried  sufficient.  5-0.  Next, Warden Keith Muir came forward to inform the Board of the approval of the Somerset County Detention Center and UniversityofMaryland Opioid Usel DisorderTelemedicine Treatment Initiative Grant in the amount of $195,474.00 that willl be used to support the ongoing clinical service program for screening, referral, and treatment for opioid use disorder-diagnosed individuals incarcerated in the Somerset County Detention Center. Warden Muir noted thisi is the  second year into the program.  Mr. Ronnie Dryden, Senator Marybeth Carozza, Delegate Charles Otto and Retired Captain Paul Barnes (formally in charge of Intelligence Department) came forward to discuss concerns occurring at Eastern Correctional Institute, a State institution, that are being brought to  the Boards attention.  Mr. Dryden began byr noting concerns discussed with Secretary Moyeri in 2016, which! have not gotten any better. He explained that he is hearing continued concerns from correctional officers, who fear retaliation. Hist main objective forl being here todayi is tol bring attention toi issues regarding shortage of staffing (going from 8001 to 550 currently, which includes understathing on the tiers/3 officers), overly stringent hiring procedures (regarding polygraph questions and credit reporting), forced overtime, thei inability to retain Correctional Officers and retention bonuses, and  2    Boardo ofCommissioners! Mecting 9-10-24  thet need tol have Headquarters, the Secretary and/or the Commissioners to meet and explain what isb being done tot turn things around. Hej provided the history of thej jail going back toi its beginning in 1983 through today. He discussed previous meetings held going back to 2014 with Secretary Moyer when the problems were initially reported and how ECI was told tol handle the problems occurring inside the jail, noting the sting operation held in October 2016. He claims that the Warden has nos sayo on how to runt the departments within thej jail. Mr. Dryden discussed the facility, noting that ECI lisrallyatwo.compoundi institution, and! he also discussed thei medical facility(18 bed hospital) in house, with three fulltime doctors, and one part time physician and physician assistants, questioning why Princess Anne Emergency Services (in August there were 27 ambulance runs) is responding to medical calls att the jail that he feelsi is unnecessary.  President Laird stated! he was told understood the State was taking care of ambulance calls tol ECI, but were not payingt the! bill whichi is why our local ambulance company ist takingt the calls. He also said that this jail is located in the county and people's safety in and outside of thej jaili is our main concern. He stated we need to get answers, and make changes, questioning how much authority the Warden has. Mr. Dryden stated the Warden does have sayt to a certain point, andi is  doing what he can do.  Senator Carozza stated her appreciation in that the County Commissioners held this meeting tol hear from shared constituents. She knows the challenges and was aware ofs some oft the issues, noting that she didn't realize matters had progressed in a negative way to this extent, and that this comes downt toj public safety. When taken to the State level, itisf felt that Statel leadership have a meeting at ECI first before reporting to county commissioners. She advised leadership needs tol look at processes the State has inj place; reviewing those that aren't working and address serious issues inside and out. She summarized that issues she is hearing that involve staffing, retention bonuses, the State not paying bills and the hiring processes noting that legislation may be needed to address some of the concerns, suggesting that non-legislative matters can be addressed first. She also stated that legislation requests should be very targeted and recommended  Commissioner support to address the issue with Statel Delegation.  Captain Barnes concurred with Mr. Dryden'ss statements, discussing the decline ofofficers. Centralized hiring should not the same for all facilities. Hes says the Statei is catering to everyone but the officers, and as example, questioned whye every inmatel has at tablet, noting that kids in our  schools need them tol learn more.  3    Board ofCommissioners Mecting9-10-24  Delegate Otto stated thatt the last contact tol his officel hasl been case managers, byl letter for President Charles Laird stated the biggest goal of the institution was to create jobs, and expressed his support to address the concerns expressed today to change this mindset today of  more personnel.  privilege. He askedi ifa any of the commissioners would like to speak.  Commissioner Randy Laird stated our main concerni is Somerset County, but askedi ifthere are concerns at other institutions. Mr. Dryden replied yes, explaining some of thes same issues at otheri institutions. The amount ofexcessive overtime officersi is working was discussed, withs safety  concerns noted using overtime practices resultingi in over worked officers.  Mr. Dryden advised three things needt tol happen; legislation to end centralized hiring, less stringent polygraph testing, notinginteligencei is doingt thej job and therei isac one-year probationary  period upon hiring, and retention bonusses.  Senator Carozza stated that due to the severity of the situation, she would first like to address the direct crisis, and then move towards legislative fixes that are targeted specifically so  thati itiss successful.  Commissioner Darryl Webster discussed hiring back log numbers at Jessup, noting the influx oflegali immigrants that have no background historyi information that are getting thej jobsi in Baltimore. He feels that the officer's think that the County Commissioners and the Secretary of Safety don't care. He was also disturbed tol hear that there are only three (3) CO's staffed wheni it should be six (6) for safety reasons with the exception oft ther midnight shift. Sick leave usage was in 2023 was 55,000 hours. Sick leave and FMLA is being abused. He questioned 2024 numbers already at 38,400 hours noting they will probably easily go over last year's number. There were 83CO vaçancies now, 26 werel hired, but 37 resigned so that] leaves negative 11.Thes system ist not working. Polygraph and background check aret too stringent andi it's taking one year to go through thel hiring process whichi is too long. Overtime pay cap aj pay for entire jail was $100,000 and is nowats $500,000ap pay.. Jobf fairs look great, but don't worki ifr no onei isl hired because: its stops when  the applicant gets to thej polygraph and back ground checks.  Mr. Dryden advised that long term ECI Civilian Committee member Lauren Taylor, who has been very committed to serving on the committee with great ideas for 37 years has sold her property in Somerset County and has advised of her resignation. He requested the county show  4    Boardo ofCommissioners! Meeting 9-10-24  their appreciation tol her. Senator Carozza advised shej personally knows Ms. Taylor andi reiterated  her personal commitment shown tol ECI  Several Correctional Officers present in the audience today also spoke, also concurring with what was beingr relayed about the working conditions at ECI. They expressed their personal concerns and what theyl have personally experienced withi iti noted that this has been going on for 6-7 years now: feeling nobody cares. Appreciation was expressed to Senator Carozza for her visit recently, although it was felt that the visit was choreographed and she was not permitted to see what was really occurring. Senator Carozza stated thats she andl Mr. Dryden were ablet tol havet their  own time where they were able tos speak with officers working.  Senator Carozza stated that she and Delegate Otto will make an official request for leadership to come down to ECI to address the issues presented. She also will run the formal request past the Commissioners to make sure they are correctly stating the request.. Al Ietter from the Commissioner'smay, capture the urgency oft thei request. The discussion concluded att thist time. Mr. Charles Cavanaugh came forward at this time to present the DI/Chance Transfer Station EA Engineering contract. Mr. Leatherbury noted that County Engineer John Redden was unable to attend today due toi illness. Mr. Cavanaugh explained that there are six functions to this  process:  Pre-Design Services Bid Phase Construction management Construction inspection  Design Two scenario's- concrete ort timber retaining walls (preference is concrete) Permitting toi include: stormwater management (county will request a waiver)  Mr. Cavanaugh advised thatt thet total contract costi is $57,500 with the total budget cost for Commissioner Willing made a motion to approve the EA Engineering Contract as presented for the DI/Chance Transfer Station. Vice President Randy Laird seconded the motion.  the project being $400,000.  By show ofhands, thei motion carried 5-0.  Mr. Clint Sterling, Director of Recreation and Parks/Tourism came forward to request a reallocation of funds regarding the proposed athletic complex project. Unfortunately, the first earmark request for thej project was denied. Hei ist requesting toi reallocate $200,000. ARPA funding to go towards design for field expansion." Therei is a limited time remaining to allocate: funding. He feels applying the funding for this purpose will strengthen the application when he applies again  for the. Athletic Complex Project.  5    Board ofCommissionersl Meeting9 9-10-24  Vice President Randy Laird made a motion to approve the reallocation of ARPA funding int the amount of$200,000 as requested. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. Bys show of  hands the motion carried 5-0.  Mr. Leatherbury continued with correspondence and discussion items. and thel letter tol Ms. Mason regarding boat slip sublease requests were noted.  Letters sent tol Dr. Ava Tasker-Mitchell regarding: inter-category FY24 budget transfers A proclamation request was received from Brian. Jones inl honor oft thes sign dedication for PFC Donald Selby that will be presented during a ceremony being held on October 25, 2024 at  UMES.  Commissioner Mathies made a motion to approve thej proclamationi request for PFC Selby as presented. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. By show ofl hands, the motion carried  5-0.  With no further business, at 3:25 p.m., the Board was advised of the need to enter into Closed Session by Authority ofthe General Provisions Article ofthe Annotated Code ofl 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 itl has jurisdiction; and (3) consider the acquisition ofreal property fora a public purpose and matters directly related to the acquisition. Commissioner Willing made a motion to enter into closed session. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. By show of hands, the  motion carried 5-0.  The Commissioner and Closed Sessioni meetings concluded at 3:52p.m.  Approved by: Bty das  Respectfully Submitted: Da  Board of County Commissioners For Somerset County  Lory E. Ebron Executive. Aide  6