BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR SOMERSET COUNTY 11916 Somerset Avenue Room 111/Meeting Room Princess Anne, MD 21853 December 3, 2024 2:00 p.m. Appointments: 2:00p.m. - Mr. John Sullivan, State Executive Director/Farm Service. Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mr. Russ Clanton, USDA State Deputy Director, Mr. Andrew Dinsmore, Delaware/Maryland Rural Development State Director, Ms. Letitia Nichols, Deputy State Director/Delaware/Maryland Rural Development State Office USDA Projects Opioid Funds Mr. John Redden 2:15 p.m.- Ms. Daniele Weber, Health Officer 2:25 p.m. - Public Notice/Homestretch Grant *2:30 p.m. - Mr. Will Cornish, DTCS Zamingeale-Tes-Aamemaiiwaasewaisaioaasilie CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program-Grant Extension Resolution MD-22-CD-24 Maryland Department ofl Natural Resources Grant Application/Franks Island Kemp Nursery Solar Farm FY25 CSEA Grant Contract *2:45 p.m. - Mr. Wes Garner, States Attorney, Ms. Alice Bromley, Child Services Correspondence Received: Comcast re: Price Adjustments Discussion 1.F Formal Approval - FY25 Legislative Committee Member and Alternate Public Comments: Members of the audience who have signed up to address the Board will be permitted to do SO 3:00 p.m. - Closed Session- Mr. Ralph D. Taylor, Mr. Ernest Leatherbury, Ms. Jamie Manaia, Mr. Authority oft the 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 it has jurisdiction; and (3) consider the acquisition at this time and allotted 5 minutes. John Redden, Mr. Charles Cavanagh, Warden Keith Muir ofreal property for a public purpose and: matters directly related to the acquisition. Denotes Action Item BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR SOMERSET COUNTY December. 3,2024 At2:00 p.m., Vice President Randy Laird called thel Board of County Commissioners for Somerset County to open inl Regular Session.. Also present fort today'smeeting were Commissioner Eldon Willing, Commissioner Craig! N. Mathies Sr., and Commissioner Darryl Webster. President Charles Laird was absent from today's meeting. and Executive Aide Lory E. Ebron were also present. County Administrator Ralph D. Taylor, Deputy Administrator Erest J. Leatherbury Jr., Closed Session Summary Report On Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 2:54 p.m., until 3:18 p.m., Vice President Randy Laird, upon a motion made by Commissioner Darryl Webster, seconded by Commissioner Eldon Willing opened in Closed Session by Authority oft the General Provisions Article oft the. Annotated CodeofMaryland $3-305 (b)(1) the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of an appointee, employee, ord official over whomi itl hasj jurisdiction; and (3) consider the acquisition ofreal property fora aj public purpose and matters directly related to the acquisition. Commissioner Craig Mathies Sr., and Commissioner Eldon Willing voted in favor, therefore the motion carried 4-0. President Charles Laird was absent from today's meeting. County Administrator Ralph D. Taylor, Ms. Lory Ebron, Executive Aide, Mr. Charles Cavanaugh, Director of Solid Waste and Maintenance and Ms. Jamie Manaia, HR Director, were also present. Topics discussed: (1) Employee Suspension (2) Property Acquisition. Approved: (1) Approval to ends suspension. Vicel President Randy Laird asked Commissioner Willingt tol lead those! present in Devotion Mr. Taylor presented meeting minutes for approval regarding the Commissioner and Commissioner Darryl Webster made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Commissioner Eldon Willing seconded the motion. Bys show ofhands the motion carried 4-0. and the Pledge of Allegiance. Closed Session meetings held onl November 19, 2024. 1 Boardo ofCommissioners! Meeting 12-3-24 Mr. John Sullivan, State Executive Director/Farm Services Agency, US Department of Agriculture came forward, He wasj joined! by Mr. Russ Clanton, USDA Statel Deputy Director, Mr. Andrew Dinsmore, Delaware/Maryland Rural Development State Director, and Ms. Letitia Nichols, Deputy State DictorDelavarcMiayland Rural Development State Office who were present today to provide information regarding United States Department of Agriculture projects in Somerset County. Mr. Sullivan advised that his appointment was made by President Biden, noting that hist remaining timei int the position willb bel brief. He advised that upon his departure, Mr. Russ Clanton, USDA State Deputy Director will be his replacement. He discussed the current drought situation/reliet. A handout was provided. Mr. Clanton advised that in 2024, 166 contracts were awarded under the Conservation Reserve Program totaling $412,379. Fifteen (15) Active Farm Storage Facility loans were made totaling $2,161,425 and thirteen (13) Active Direct and Guaranteed Loans were made totaling $5,799,000, noting they have been active in the Somerset County area. He also advised that the drought monitor is at D2 (severe drought) fort the state. Mr. Sullivan noted his support of Smith) Island, andl how Rural Development has assisted as well. Mr. Dinsmore and Ms. Nichols from Rural Development next distributed a "summary of progress" handout. Mr. Dinsmore advised that Ms. Nichols willl be the contact upon his departure. She comes with 27 years ofs service with the department. Mr. Dinsmore thanked Somerset County for being a long-time borrower. Various grant and loan opportunities were presented which included solar effect grants, loan guarantees, water/sewer loans, lowi interest/long terml loans, small business and! homeowner loans. Thel Board thanked those! heret today forp providing thei information. Next, Ms. Danielle Weber andl Ms. Christy Taylor, Department ofHealth came forwardt to present the ORF Targeted Abatement Grant Program for board approval. Ms. Weber explained that there are local abatement grants the county needs to apply for. The plan was previously approved by the Somerset County Overdose United Team (SCOUT) committee. This request, in the amount of$92,634.00 will bet used for family support services tol hire a Peer Support Specialist Ip part time, for two years and covers personnel and software. She advised that there is the desire expressed to start spending opioid funds. The discussion continued regarding the vending machines that are being used and are continuously: refilled (condoms and Narcan). There are1 two currently: place in the county, with the intention to add one in Deal Island and UMES (if funding is obtained). The cost for one machine is$18,000, and provides al lot of usable data. 2 Board ofCommissioners Meeting 12-3-24 Commissioner Webster made a motion to execute the ORF Targeted Abatement Grant Program as presented. Commissioner Willing seconded the motion. Those present voted aye therefore, thei motion carried 4-0. Mr. John Redden, County Engineer came forward to discuss the Homestretch Grant, which will provide funding to broadband internet providers to cover the costs of running connections for driveways longer than aj provider will connect for free as aj part ofinstallation. Mr. Redden stated the county is working with three broadband providers (Comcast, Choptank and Charter), noting that there are 150 properties in the Comcast service area which includes Pocomoke, Eden, Deal Island and Princess Anne. A copy oft thea advertisement runningi ini thep paper was presented, withi itb being noted thatt this grant funding willy work on ai first come firsts servel basis. Mr. Redden recommended that letters be written and sent directly to these homeowners toi insure they are made aware. He advised that Charter is affected differently, and a meeting is scheduled with Choptank later this week. The Board gavet their consensus tol have the letters (approximately 150) mailed to the customers int the Comcast area. Next, Mr. Will Cornish, Assistant Director, DTCS came forward. First, Mr. Taylor advised that additional time wasi needed to complete thei firsti item, Zoning Code Text Amendment (relating to the Verizon Internet Project) therefore, it willl be presented at the next available meeting. Next, Mr. Cornish presented the CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program grant extension that the CDBG office approved for grant MD-22-CD-24. Thei new amended deadline ist now. June 30, 2025 with approximately $100,000 in funding remaining. The amended grant agreement requires thel President" 's signature to execute. Commissioner Mathies made ai motion to authorize the President's signature on the grant agreement (Md-22-CD-24). as presented. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. All those present voted aye therefore thei motion carried 4-0. Mr. Cornish continued, advising that last September, Mr. Frank Parks, Fisher of Men Foundation: requested al letter ofs support and county assistance regarding al Department ofl Natural Resources (DNR) Shoreline Protection and Revitalization Grant Application for Franks' Islandi in the amount of approximately $50,000 (maximum amount of$100,000). Planning and Zonings staff met with Mr. Parks, visited thes site, and recommend moving forward with submission oftheg grant 3 Boardo ofCommissioners! Mecting 12-3-24 application and the letter of support. Additionally, approval is needed for Resolution #1204 to submit the grant application. The county must apply for the grant on their behalf. Commissioner Willing made ai motion to authorize Vice President Randy Laird tos sign the DNR Grant Agreement as well as approve Resolution #1204 regarding the Shoreline Protection and Revitalization Grant Application for Frank's Island. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. Those present voted ayet therefore, the motion carried 4-0. Commissioner Willingi madean motiont to approvet thel letter of support fort the Frank'sI Island DNR Grant application as presented. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. Those present voted ayet therefore the motion carried 4-0. Last, Mr. Cornishy presented ar request received from Bohler Engineering, on behalfoftheir client Nexamp to construct a 5Mwac Solar Facility onl Kemp's! Nursery Road, Princess Annel MD. As per Zoning Code, a public hearing shall be held on requests for a floating zone district designation by thel Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners respectively. The application for a floating zone district approval is required tol be submitted tot the Board of County Commissioners for referral to the Planning Commission in order to move forward with a P&Z Planning Commission; public hearing to allow them to apply fora a solar energy floating zone, after which the Board of Commissioners will also hold aj public hearing. The Board discussed their concerns regarding this project, located near Deal Island feeling that the county has lost control of solar projects. Commissioner Webster noted that the county can speak but have no authority. Due to concers expressed, Mr. Taylor asked ift the Board would like tot table the matter until wel have af full board present. Vice President Randy Laird requested ai motion. No: motion was made; therefore, no action States Attorney Wes Garner and Ms. Alice Bromley, Child Services came forward at this timet top present the FY25 CSEA/CRA contract. This year's grant amount isi for $449,153, with the totall local cost sharel being $152,712 (County is reimbursed 66% ofthe! program). Ity was noted that included with this year'sr request is ai new, and badly needed part time position. Thei increased work load, which has become more labor intensive was explained, and it was also noted that Ms. Brumley willl ber retiring next. June. They would1 liket tol have this person on board and trained before her departure. Thel lastt timeap position was addedt to this department wasi in 1995 whent the seconded Administrative Assistant was added. Mr. Garer noted that a $35,000 grant received will go was taken. Mr. Cornish left the meeting at this time. 4 Board ofCommissioners) Mceting 12-3-24 towards this new position, and he would like tol have the position filled for two years so that the department can get caught up. The need will be re-evaluated at that time. Commissioner Webster made ai motion to authorize the President'ss signature on thel FY25 CSEA/CRA Contract has presented. Commissioner Willing seconded the motion. All those present voted ayet therefore thei motion carried 4-0. Mr. Taylor continued with correspondence, advising that a notice was received from Regarding discussion, Mr. Taylor requested formal approval of the phone poll taken on November 21, 2024 for the Fiscal Year 2025 Legislative Committee Member and Altemate. Commissioner Webster was recommended as Member, who must be an elected official and Mr. Comcast advising of price adjustments staring in November 2024. Leatherbury as alternate. Commissioner Mathies made a motion to approve, the nomination of Commissioner Webster as Somerset County's 2025 Legislative Committee Member and Mr. Leatherbury as alternate. Commissioner Willing seconded the motion. Those present voted aye therefore, the motion carried 4-0. With no further business, Vice President Laird asked Mr. Robert McIntyre, Mt. Vernon Mr. McIntyre first asked about the status of Emergency Medical Services regarding ambulance issues. Mr. McIntyre was told that the county is continuingt to work ont the hiring, with ana application just received recently fort the EMS Coordinator which) has not been presented toi the Road, Princess Anne MD to address the Board asl hel had signed up to speak. Board as of yet. Mr. McIntyret then asked about solar panels, askingi ifhe were to desire toi not farm his field duet to the low income received on beans, would the Board dictate whether he can puts solar panels onl his land. Vice President Randy Laird notedi it would depend on what the property is zoned for. Thec question willr require follow up. Commissioner Webster notedt thatt there ares somei int the county noti ini favor ofs solar panels versus farming the land, including concerns being expressed regarding thei impact solar panels may have ont the land, and environment, especially when the solar panels reach their end of use. A brief discussion was heldi regarding the solar process, the recycling ofthe panels and the difference of opinions on the issue were expressed by Commissioner Webster and Mr. McIntyre. 5 Board ofCommissioners! Mecting 12-3-24 With no further business, at 2:54 p.m., the Board was advised of the need for a Closed Session. Upon a motion made by Commissioner Darryl Webster and seconded by Commissioner Eldon Willing, the Board entered 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 whom it has jurisdiction; and (3) consider the acquisition ofreal property for a public purpose and matters directly related tot the acquisition. Commissioner Craig Mathies Sr., and Vice President Randy Laird voted in favor, therefore the motion carried 4-0. The Commissioner and Closed Session meetings held today concluded at 3:18 p.m. Approved by: Respectfully Submitted: Clohbg Board of County Commissioners For Somerset County Lory E. Ebron Executive. Aide 6