BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR SOMERSET COUNTY 11916 Somerset Avenue 8 - - Room 111/Meeting Room Princess Anne, MD 21853 E May 20, 2025 2:00 p.m. Appointments: 2:00 p.m. - Ms. Sherree Marshall, Director, Commission on Aging * FY2026 Senior Center Operating Funds Grant Application 2:05 p.m. - Ms. Sharon Muir, Internal Auditor * FY26 LGIT Sponsorship Letters/Sanitary District and Library 2:10 p.m. - Mr. Jesse Drewer, Director, DTCS * Community Development Block Grant Agreement CV-1-10/Second Amendment Correspondence Received: Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development re: Annual Housing Bond Allocation * Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland re: Appointment Request Correspondence Sent: Ms. Janet McIntyre re: Planning Commission Reappointment Smith Island United re: Landfill Tipping Fee Waiver Approval Discussion: * 1. Board of Education Fund Allocation Request Public Comments: Members of the audience who have signed up to address the Board will be permitted to do SO at this time and allotted 5 minutes. 2:15 p.m. Closed Session- Mr. Ernest Leatherbury, Ms. Jamie Manaia, Ms. Yvette Cross, Mr. Woody Barnes Authority of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland S 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 May 20, 2025 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 were Vicel President Randy Laird, Commissioner Eldon Willing, Commissioner Craig N. Mathies Sr., and Commissioner Darryl Webster. Interim County Administrator Emest J. Leatherbury Jr., and Executive Aide Lory E. Ebron were also present,. Closed Session Summary Report On Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 2:16 p.m., until 2:28 p.m., President Charles Laird, upon a motion made by Craig N. Mathies, Sr., and seconded by Commissioner Darryl Webster, opened in 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 itl has jurisdiction. Also present and voting in favor were President Charles Laird, Vice President Randy Laird and Commissioner Eldon Willing. Therefore, by show ofhands the motion carried 5-0. Deputy Administrator Ernest J. Leatherbury Jr., Director of Public Works Woody Barnes and HR Director Jamie Manaia, Emergency Services Director Ms. Yvette Cross and Executive Aide Lory E. Ebron were also present. Topics discussed: (1) Hiring for Superintendent for Roads Waterways (2) Hiring for 911 Specialist (3) Probationary to Permanent Employee Status (4) County owned building modification request. Approved: (1) Approval to hire Superintendent for Roads Waterways (2) Approval to hire 911 Specialist (3) Approval to move probationary employees to permanent employee status (4) Building modification request not approved. President Charles Laird asked Commissioner Willing to lead those present in Devotion and the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Leatherbury presented meeting minutes for approval regarding the Commissioner and Closed Session meetings held on May 6, 2025, Work Session meeting held on April 29, 2025 and Buard ofCommissioners' Meeting 5-20-25 the Special Session meeting held on April 29, 2025. The minutes were not approved as Commissioner Webster had not yet reviewed the minutes. Ms. Sherree Marshall, Director, Commission on Aging, came forward to present the FY 2026 Senior Citizens Operating Fund (SCOF) Grant application and letter in the amount of $45,845 for consideration and approval. Commissioner Mathies made a motion to approve the FY26 SCOF grant application as presented. Vice President Randy Laird seconded the motion. By show ofhands, the motion carried 5-0. Next, Ms. Sharon Muir, Internal Auditor, came forward to present a request to approve the LGIT sponsorship of the Somerset County Library System and the Somerset County Sanitary District as participants in the Local Government Insurance Trust Liability and Property Pools of insurance coverage. She explained that pursuant to the LGIT Trust Agreement, the county must submit "Public Entity" sponsorship letters for the 2025-2026 renewal-year for these two component units that the county sponsors. Ms. Muir requested Board approval for the two letters for the primary excess liability program and the property program as presented for these two component units for each participant, therefore totaling four (4) letters requiring approval and signature. Vice President Randy Laird made a motion to approve the President' s signature on the four LGIT sponsorship letters as presented. Commissioner Mathies seconded the motion. By show of hands, the motion carried 5-0. Mr. Jesse Drewer, Department of Technical and Community Services Director came forward at this time to advise that additional funding has been received from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development COVID-Round-I funding totaling $231,848 that will be distributed to the Commission on Aging for $122,148, Bethany House for $76,080 and Catholic Charities for $33,620. Approval for the President's signature was requested on this Second Amendment to the Agreement (CV-1-10). Commissioner Webster made a motion to authorize the President to sign the second amendment for grant CV-1-10 as presented. Commissioner Willing seconded the motion. By show of hands, the motion carried 5-0. Mr. Leatherbury continued with correspondence and discussion items. 2 Board of Commissioners Mecting 5-20-25 Mr. Leatherbury presented a letter was received from Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (the Department) regarding the transfer of Somerset County's 2025 Housing Bond Allocation to the Department. The letter advised that the Department invites Somerset County to transfer funds, in the amount of$1,131,630 (for 2025) to issue bonds to fund housing programs or to issue mortgage credit certificates. In prior years, the annual housing bond allocation has been an extremely powerful and successful tool in creating affordable housing opportunities. Historically the County has transferred its allocation as the county does not have the capacity to administer the programs. Mr. Leatherbury advised that if the Board elects to do so, a motion is needed requested Board approval to transfer the 2025 Somerset County Housing Bond Allocation to the Department of Housing and Community Development for $1,131,635 as presented. Commissioner Mathies made a motion to approve the transfer the 2025 Somerset County Housing Bond Allocation to the Department of Housing and Community Development for $1,131,635 as presented. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. By show of hands, the motion carried 5-0. A letter was received from Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, requesting the appointment of Ms. Carol Muir, Hebron Savings Bank Branch Manager to serve as a representative ofs Somerset County on the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance. Commissioner Webster made a motion to appoint Ms. Carol Muir to the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance. Commissioner Willing seconded the motion. By show of hands, the motion carried 5-0. Correspondence sent, as noted on the agenda, was reviewed with the Board. Next, Mr. Leatherbury revisited the meeting held last week when the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Tasker-Mitchell and the Board of Education Chairman, Mr. Matthew Lankford attended to discuss the Board of Education* s request for $1 Million additional funding. Commissioner Mathies stated that through the FY26 budget discussions, the Somerset County Commissioners remain committed to complying with the Maryland Department of Education Blueprint, which mandates a minimum starting pay of $60,000 for all teachers by July 2026. After discussions, and a request from the Superintendent of Schools and the Somerset County School Board, an additional $700,000 will be appropriated, above the required Maintenance of Effort (MOE) of $12,100,000 to Somerset County Public Schools. The Board of 3 Board ofd Commissioneis Meeting 5-20-25 Commissioners remain committed to all teachers, staff and students, and it is the Boards intent that the additional funding be directly applied to the mandated minimum salary, and instruction of our students. The Board of Commissioners wish to ensure that Somerset County has the ability to recruit and retain the best teachers in the region, while providing our students the education they deserve. Iti is also our hope that these additional funds prevent the. loss of any instructional positions in the school system. Commissioner Mathies then made ai motion to approve the additional funding of$700,000, above the $12,100,000 MOE. Vice President Randy Laird seconded the motion. President Charles Laird voted in favor. Commissioner s Webster and Willing were opposed, therefore, the motion carried 3-2-0. Next, President Charles Laird asked Ms. Leslie Nelson to come forward, as she had signed up to address the Board. Ms. Nelson, 30059 Donny Brooke Lane, Princess Anne, Maryland thanked the Board for the opportunity to speak. She advised she is a resident in Somerset County, with a passion in community development. She explained her youth program, noting she is a non-profit organization. They have an event scheduled to showcase their organization at the Salisbury Civic Center on August 16, 2025, and she is looking for sponsorship, funding or donation in kind, as they are looking to raise $5,000 for the event. She discussed the rising communication problems with our youth, and was meeting with the county commissioners to discuss partnership opportunities with her youth program. Additionally, she discussed a residential concern she has regarding recycling, asking if the Town or County has any codes in place to address a recycling program for the community and/or county. With no further business, a motion was made by Commissioner Mathies to adjourn the meeting at 2:16 p.m. and enter into Closed Session by Authority oft 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. Commissioner Webster seconded the motion. Also present and voting in favor were President Charles Laird, Vice President Randy Laird and Commissioner Eldon Willing. Therefore, by show ofhands the motion carried 5-0. 4 Board orCommissioners Mecting 5-20-25 The Commissioner Regular Session Meeting, Closed Session Meeting and Public Hearing Meeting held regarding the FY 2026 Budget concluded at 7:23 p.m. Approved by: Respectfully Submitted: Polep Board of County Commissioners Lory E. Ebron For Somerset County Executive Aide 5