BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR SOMERSET COUNTY 11916 Somerset Avenue Room 111/Meeting Room Princess Anne, MD 21853 October 8, 2024 2:00 p.m.  Appointment:  2:00 p.m. - Mr. Willis Dryden and Mr.Jesse Drewer  Graduation from the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance  Mr. Ralph D. Taylor  20 Years of Service Recognition  Correspondence  Sent:  The Honorable Wes Moore re: Somerset County Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board Nomination Reverend Doctor Doretha S. Whittington re: Somerset County Administrative Charging Committee  Secretary Carolyn. J. Scruggs re: Request for Meeting  Discussion  1. Formal Approval- MOU FEMA and Somerset County/BRIC Program 2. Formal Approval - Fairmount Landfill Violation 3. Formal Approval - Cybersecurity Grant Program Application  Public Comments: Members oft the audience who have signed up to address the Board will be permitted to 2:30 p.m. - Closed Session- Mr. Ralph D. Taylor, Mr. Ernest Leatherbury, Ms. Jamie Manaia,  do SO at this time and allotted 5 minutes.  Mr.J Jesse Drewer, Ms. Faith Redmond, Mr. Willis Dryden, Warden Keith Muir Authority of the General Provisions Article oft 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 has jurisdiction.  Denotes Action Item    BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR SOMERSET COUNTY October 8, 2024  At 2:00 p.m., President Charles Laird called the Board of County Commissioners for Somerset County to openi inl Regular Session. Also present fort today'sr meeting were Vice President Randy Laird, Commissioner Eldon Willing and Commissioner Craig N. Mathies Sr.  Commissioner Darryl Webster was absent from today's meeting. and Executive. Aide Lory E. Ebron were also present.  County Administrator Ralph D. Taylor, Deputy Administrator Ernest J. Leatherbury Jr.,  Closed Session Summary Report  On Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 2:20 p.m., until 2:49 p.m., President Charles Laird, upon a motion made by Commissioner Craig Mathies, and seconded by Vice President Randy Laird opened in Closed Session by Authority oft the General Provisions Article of the Annotated CodeofMaryland $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. Commissioner Eldon Willing and President Charles Laird voted ini favor, therefore thei motion carried 4-0. Commissioner Darryl Webster was  absent from today'sn meeting.  County Administrator Ralph D. Taylor, Deputy County Administrator Emest J. Leatherbury Jr., Ms. Lory Ebron, Executive Aide, Mr. Jesse Drewer, DTCS Director and Ms. Jamie Manaia, HRI Director, Finance Director Faithl Redmond, Tax Supervisor Willis Dryden and  Warden Muir were also present.  Topics discussed:( (I)Hiring Planning and Zoning Assistant Director/Zoning. Administrator and Tax Collections Clerk I( (2) Probationary to Permanent Employee Status (3) Probationary status extension (4). Adopt) Budget Grants Administrator position (5) Employee suspension. Topics Approved: (1) Approval tol hire Planning and Zoning Assistant Director/Zoning Administrator (2) Approval to hire Tax Collections Clerk I (3) Approval to move probationary employees to permanent employee status (4) Approval to extend status of probationary employee (5) Approval to adopt Budget Grants Administrator position (6) Approval to suspend employees without pay.  President Charles Laird asked Commissioner Willing tol lead those present inl Devotion and  the! Pledge of Allegiance.    Boardo ofCommissioners Meeting I0-8-24  Mr. Taylor presented meeting minutes for approval regarding the Commissioner Special and Closed Session meetings held on September 17, 2024 and the Commissioner and Closed  Session meetings held on September 24, 2024.  Commissioner Mathies made a motion to approve the minutes from the September 17, 2024 and September 24, 2024 meetings as presented. Commissioner Willing seconded thei motion.  By show of! hands the motion carried 4-0.  First, Mr. Taylor asked Mr. Jesse Drewer and Mr. Willis Dryden to come forward. He advised that both Mr. Drewer and Mr. Dryden have graduated from the. Academy for Excellence in Local Governance at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Mr. Taylor  congratulated both gentlemen for this distinguished accomplishment. recognition for his twenty years of dedicated service to Somerset County. Mr. Taylor continued with correspondence and discussion items.  Next, Mr. Leatherbury presented Mr. Ralph D. Taylor with ac certificate of appreciation in  Letters were sent to Governor Wes Moore regarding the Somerset County Property Tax Assessment Appeals Boardi nomination, to Secretary CarolynJ J.S Scruggs requestingameeting, and lastt tol Reverend Doctor Doretha S. Whittington regardingl her appointment to the Somerset County  Administrative Charging Committee.  Regarding discussioni items, Mr. Taylor requested formal board approval for thei following: The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Somerset County to provide a framework for the collaboration of FEMA and Somerset County to carry out their respective roles and responsibilities with respect to FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program. This agreement sets forth the terms by which FEMA will provide BRIC: Direct Technical Assistance to Somerset County and noti intended Vice President Randy Laird made at motion toi formally approve the MOU between FEMA and Somerset County as presented. Commissioner Willing seconded the motion. By show of  tol be legally binding.  hands, the motion carried 4-0.  Payment ofa fine, to avoid any additional penalties, assessed toi the County regarding Landfill violations in the amount of $10,000 after review of the documents provided Commissioner Willing made a motion to formally authorize payment of the Landfill violation fine to Maryland Department of the Environment (Reference # SP-25-3048 Invoice # AC040841) per the Consent Order in the amount of $10,000. Commissioner Mathies seconded  byt the Maryland Department of thel Environment.  the motion. Bys show ofh hands, the motion carried 4-0.  2    Board ofCommissioners! Meeting 10-8-24  Thel ITI Department request for approval to apply fora a Cybersecurity, grant application in the amount of$90,885. Deadline to apply was October 3, 2024. This funding will be Vice President Randy Laird made a motion to formally approve the Cybersecurity grant application in the amount of $90,885. Commissioner Mathies seconded the motion. By show of  used towards additional cyber security efforts.  hands, the motion carried 4-0.  President Laird opened thet meeting at this time for public comment. Pastor Dean DeFino, Antioch Church, Princess Annel MD came: forward. Pastor DeFino introduced himself to the Board, advising he has been attending Town meetings, but also wanted to meet the Board of Commissioners in person, and share exciting things that are happening at the church. He explained work performed recently to the sanctuary, and notedt that their plan ist to next work ont the fellowshipl hall which has not been used for years. He is interested in the development of the Town of Princess Anne, sharing what he feels the church can do to promote activities. He discussed plans for these activities which included concerts, movies, stage events and roller skating and activities that home schoolers can attend to fulfill requirements. A Youth Pastor has been hired and he is very excited about offering these Mr. Robert. J. Mcintyre, 28101 Mt. Vernon Road, Princess Annel MD came forward. Mr. Mcintyrenotedl landfill finep paid, anda also discussed: Flair project att thel Landfill feeling Commissioner Mathies advised the Board of two proclamation requests he received. The first was to acknowledge the Class of 1974 Golden Hawk Union 50th Anniversary Celebration. The second was to acknowledge the Reverend DeAngelo Antonio Johnson, Pastor of Dames Quarter-St. Charles Charge. The event: is scheduled for October 20, 2024 at UMES.  events toj parishioners as well as the public. Events arei freet to attend.  that thel burning off ofr methane gas willl help the world.  Vice President Randy Laird made a motion to approve the proclamation request for the Hawk 50th Anniversary. Commissioner Willing seconded the motion. By show of hands the  motion carried 4-0.  Vice President Randy Laird made a motion to approve the proclamation request to acknowledge. Reverend DeAngelo Antonio. Johnson. Commissioner Willings seconded thei motion.  By show ofhands the motion carried 4-0.  With no further business, at 2:20 p.m., the Board was advised of the need to enter into Closed Session by Authority oft the General Provisions Article oft the Annotated Code ofMaryland  3    Board ofCommissioners) Meeting 10-8-24  $3-305 (b)(I) the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of an appointee, employee, or official over whom itl hasj jurisdiction. Commissioner Mathies made ar motion to enter into closed session. Vice President Randy Laird seconded the motion. Those present voted aye therefore the motion carried 4-0. Commissioner Darryl Webster was absent from today's meeting. The Commissioner and Closed Session meetings held today concluded at 2:49 p.m.  Approved by: Claybg  Respectfully Submitted:  Board of County Commissioners For Somerset County  Lory E. Ebron Executive Aide  4