CAROLINE COUNTY Phone: (410) 479-8145 09 Fax: (410) 479-5736 BOARD OF ELECTIONS Email: election@carolinemdog 403 S. Seventh Street, Suite 247, Denton, MD 21629 wrolemdectomsog Caroline County Board of Elections Meeting 403 S. 7th Street, Suite 111, Denton, MD 21629 July 11, 2025, 9:30 am The meeting will be held in-person and live streamed: ntes/wwwcaolnemdor/lwe-Meeineg AGENDA 1. Call Meeting to Order 2. Declaration of Quorum Present 3. Welcome Members & Guests 4. Approval of Minutes a. June 20, 2025, Meeting 5. Request Changes to the Agenda 6. Election Director's Report 7. Board Members' Report/Disclosure of Campaign Contributions 8. Board Attorney's Report 9. Old Business 10. New Business 11. Public Comments 12. Schedule Next Meeting 13. Closed Session a. Part of the meeting will be closed under the provision of the Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Art. $3-305(b)(1) to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals. 14. Adjournment Public Participation: Members of the public may address the Board. Pursuant to $3.2B of the Board's bylaws, public participation at a meeting must be pre-scheduled and pre-approved by the President. To request approval to speak at a board meeting, contact Allison Murphy at 410-479- 8145 or by email linmuphenanenisey no later than 4:00 pm the day before the meeting. Caroline County Board of Elections Monthly Board Meeting Health & Public Services Building 403 S. Seventh Street, Suite 111, Denton, Maryland Friday, June 20, 2025 - 9:30 a.m. In Attendance: Board: James Bilbrough II, President Dana Callahan, Member Suzanne Campos, Vice-President Angel Perez, Member Margaret Thompson, Member Walter Palmer, Board Attorney Staff: Allison Murphy, Election Director Tammy Willis, Election Program Specialist Guests: Corinna Crenshaw, Caroline County Democratic Central Committee Member & Caroline County Democratic Club Member Declaration of Quorum Present Mr. Bilbrough called the meeting to order at 9:31 a.m. and stated that there was a quorum present. Welcome Members and Guests The board welcomed newly appointed member Angel Perez. Mr. Perez introduced himself to the board. Approval of Meeting Minutes from April 11, 2025 Mrs. Thompson made a motion to approve the meeting minutes with corrections. Ms. Campos seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Request Changes to the Agenda There were none. Election Director's Report Mrs. Murphy reviewed the Director's Report with the Board. She added that a lawsuit involving the State Board of Elections has been dismissed sO election materials from the 2020 elections may now be shredded. She also informed the Board that the job recruitment to fill Mrs. Brohawn's upcoming vacancy was posted on June 17th and ends on July 1, 2025. Mrs. Murphy also provided the Board Members with a copy of The 90 Day Report, an overview of bills that passed during the 2025 legislative session. The report was not available to share during April's Board meeting when she reviewed legislation. Board Member's Report/Disclosure of Campaign Contributions No report. Board Attorney's Report Mr. Palmer gave kudos to staff regarding the timely response to the Open Meetings Act complaint. He stated he has a virtual meeting of the LBE attorneys in July. Mr. Palmer stated he will have to leave today's meeting at 10:30 a.m. to attend a funeral. Old Business a. Open Meetings Act Complaint Mr. Bilbrough read the Official Opinion of the State of Maryland Open Meetings Act Compliance Board dated May 12, 2025, stating that the Caroline County Board of Elections did not violate the Open Meetings Act. All members of the Caroline County Board of Elections acknowledged the finding by signing a copy of the opinion. Mrs. Murphy will scan and email the signed opinion to the Open Meetings Act Compliance Board. b. Annual MAEO/SBE Biennial Conference Mrs. Murphy stated she especially liked the best practices session that grouped like- size counties together. Mrs. Thompson noted that she enjoyed the speaker who presented about all actions have consequences. New Business a. State Ethics Training for Board Members In-person State Ethics training will be provided for board members during a closed session at the next board meeting on July 11, 2025. Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Callahan already completed the training online. Mrs. Thompson stated it only took about 50 minutes to complete. b. 2026 Election Calendar A copy of the Election Calendar produced by the State Board of Elections, showing the dates and deadlines relating to the 2026 elections was provided in the Board Members' packet. Mrs. Murphy explained that she will also provide a Caroline County Election Calendar at the beginning of the year. It will include color-coded events that the board members are responsible for attending. C. 2026 Primary Election Newsletter Mr. Bilbrough and Mr. Palmer pointed out two local offices were missing from the list of offices that will appear on the ballot. Mrs. Murphy stated she will make the corrections. Mrs. Murphy explained that the newsletter includes legislative updates that affect the election judges. She wanted to be sure that the election judges are aware of the requirement to have equal representation of the majority and principal minority party at each polling place and that it will affect unaffiliated judges being assigned. Public Comments No public comment. Schedule the Next Meeting The next meeting will be held Friday, July 11, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at the Health & Public Services Building, 403 S. 7th Street, Suite 111, Denton, Maryland. Adjournment Mrs. Callahan made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Mr. Perez seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Bilbrough adjourned the meeting at 9:55 a.m. Closed Session Part of the meeting was closed under the provision of the Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article 53-305(b)(1) to perform evaluation of the election director. At 9:55 a.m., on a motion by Ms. Campos, seconded by Mrs. Thompson, the board voted unanimously to convene in closed session. Members attending the closed session were: Mr. Bilbrough, Ms. Campos, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Callahan, Mr. Perez and Mrs. Murphy. Mrs. Thompson made a motion to adjourn closed session, Mrs. Callahan seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. The closed meeting adjourned at 10:38 a.m. Respectfully submitted. Signed: Approved: Ms. Tammy Willis Mr. James Bilbrough, II Election Program Specialist Board President Dated: Dated: Election Director's Report July 11, 2025 Administration Election Program Specialist position posting closed on July 1, 2025. HR has up to three weeks to review and grade the applications. The State issued hiring freeze does not include board of elections Staff virtually attended multiple MAEO committee meetings. Voter Registration Voter registration totals reports from June and July 2025 are included for review. Election Judges 69 Judges have responded to the Election Judge Interest Survey; 68 Yes and 1 No. Af follow-up request was sent to the election judges who have not yet responded. CandidateFiling As of 7/2/2025, five candidates have filed candidacy for local contests in Caroline County. Donnie Baker for Sheriff Margie S. Hannawald for Clerk of Circuit Court Stephanie B. Ramsey for Clerk of Circuit Court Peggy A. Gallagher for Clerk of Circuit Court Linda Dunn for Register of Wills The list of statewide candidates can be viewed here: htpslelections.manytndgofelections2028/Pimay.candidates/ndex.htmt e 2 % LA W a a N R e 6 W i W a : - 1 - 3 3 6 a 3 2 3 4 3 1 8 o 3 2 s 4 3 3 a