County Council - Regular Meeting

said that was

the prayer and the pledge of allegiance of the flag. Heavenly Father, we uh as always, let let us open with uh with thanks to you for all of your your guidance, your wisdom, and uh just being here for every every citizen here in Talby County, our state, our nation, and our world. Father, we just thank you and we praise you. Uh Father, give us the wisdom to make the decisions we have to make as hard decisions that they may be or easy decisions they may be. Just please please uh you know uh allow us to make those decisions with your will and your truth in mind. We thank you. We love you. We praise you and we ask all of these things in Jesus most precious and holy name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, let's go ahead and get started. I appreciate everybody being here tonight. Um, we've got agenda in in front of us here. Is there any additions, deletions, or corrections to the agenda, council? Okay. Hear hearing none. The chair moves that um the agenda be accepted as unanimous consent. We got the minutes in front of us of April 14th and April 21st and we've had a chance to take a look at that. Is there any additions, deletions, or correction to that?

No, sir. Okay. The chair moves that the minutes be accept accepted as unanimous consent. Um lastly here is the dispersements of May 12th. We've had a chance to take a look at those. Um any deletions or corrections uh or additions to that? No. Okay. Hearing none, the chair moves that the dispersants be accepted as unanimous consent. Okay. Getting started tonight on the agenda. The first proclamation is community um action month. Madam Secretary, could you go ahead and read that into the record, please?

Community action month May 2026. Whereas community action agencies create pathways to prosperity by helping hard-working families achieve economic independence rather than remaining reliant on government assistance. And whereas the Community Action Network includes nearly 1,000 agencies nationwide that work to strengthen local communities, expand economic opportunity, and help families build long-term stability. And whereas the neighborhood service center of Talbet County, founded in 1969, has served the community for more than 37 years as the county's designated community action agency, providing vital services including emergency financial assistance, food distribution, youth programming, eviction prevention, digital access, re-entry support, and energy assistance for lowincome households. And whereas community action programs are innovative, responsive, and tailored to meet local needs, delivering high impact, and cost-effective results that generate a strong return on investment for communities. And whereas in 2025, the neighborhood service center served one in every 13 Toa County residents, demonstrating its significant local impact. And whereas community action agencies promote private sector job creation, career training, financial education, and small business support to help families achieve long-term financial independence and are locally controlled and supported by boards that include elected officials, private and public sector leaders, and community residents, ensuring that programs reflect local priorities and needs. And whereas community action agencies are trusted pillars of the community that engage volunteers and partners to advance local progress, support working families, and foster

lasting community success. Now therefore, we the county council of Talbet County do hereby proclaim May 2026 as community action month in Talbet County and recognize the vital work and dedication of the neighborhood service center of Talbet County and all community action agencies throughout the country. Given under our hands in the great seal of Talbet County this 12th day of May in the year of our lord 20126. Okay, good job, Madam Secretary. Andy, you and I vet want to come on up. I made a motion first, Mr. President. Oh, okay. Is there is there a motion? So moved. Second. Okay, we got a motion second to go ahead and put this into the record. Madam Secretary, could you call the vote? Mr. Callahan, I. Mr. Steppp, I. Mr. Leer,

I. Miss Milky, I. Okay, come on up.

Well, welcome. I've been waiting for this all day long, you know. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, county council members. I want to start by saying I've never heard a more melodic reading of a proclamation. So, thank you so much for that.

Um, so the proclamation basically said it all. We are community action agency actually designated by you, the elected officials, the county council of Taba County to serve to serve those members in the community that are in poverty or on the cusp of poverty. And unfortunately, not to your surprise, but unfortunately that number continues to grow. Uh we are seeing increased foot traffic through our food pantry, homeless prevention, and things of that sort. So, it is a serious serious challenge. And the fact that you're doing the proclamation, and I will point out, continue to provide funding, increase funding for operations every year needs to be recognized and appreciated. There are significant funding challenges at the federal and state level. Bless you. Um, but the county council continues to realize that the people in our community that are suffering the most really need to have a focus and you come through each and every time. So, thank you and everybody needs to be aware of that. I want to thank Mr. Callahanne who is our board president uh for his I shouldn't laugh when I say wisdom um for his wisdom.

It's hard for you. It's hard. It's hard for his wisdom and assistance in terms of moving the agency forward. And I think we're going in the right direction and a lot of that rests with you, Mr. Callahan. So, thank you. This is Evette Robinson, our deputy director. Should have introduced you to That's okay. I'm good. You want to say anything? No, thank you for having me. So, thank you all very much. Okay. Yeah. Um, great what you all do and been doing it for a while and just get better year by year. Thank you for everything.

Yep. Well, I was delighted to have the a tour earlier this year of of the facility and and to uh and to see all that you were doing there with the uh the afterchool program and the food bank and all the the variety of services that you offer. You're just absolutely indispensable to this community. I will I will echo the thanks. I just you guys do it all. You do it with smile. you do with grace and uh just just appreciate you. Thank you. Okay, where do I start now? Okay, you can you can make it very short.

Okay. Um I I like like Andy said um we're really blessed to have the neighborhood service center and um we've been working really hard over there in the last year and a half and um we were we're blessed to have two people and a team around us. one is was Evette. Um, and we really appreciate the effort um of some of the hurdles we had over there, Evette, and and you've been you've been instrumental on getting things straight. And then um you know, you're raising Andy now. Now you're raising Andy. So, um but all kidding aside, um Andy has done a absolute phenomenal job for the organization. Um and we're blessed to have him and we're blessed to have the whole team there. So, um, you guys are doing very, very good work. I've seen it firsthand. It's a pleasure for me to even be in there and representing, um, the organization. Um, and this the work that we're doing over there is phenomenal and crucial to the to this community. That's for sure. and I see it and I'm there pretty much all the time in in helping and and I I really enjoy it and got a firsthand of how how um how helpful it is to the community. So, once again, I really appreciate it and I want the public to um keep an eye out because we we have rebranded um the neighborhood service center and there's going to be some new things coming out and we're going to tell everybody how great it is and um I'm looking forward to doing that in in the months to come. So,

and I should just add real quick, so we would not be successful. We would not be able to walk the path we walk without our community partners. Yes, Amy Horn's in the audience from the St. Michael's Community Center. We work with Tobit interface shelter, St. Vincent, Nepal. It takes it takes the village. It truly does. And we're really blessed to have all of those people with us. And and and really to jump on that, Andy, is um you know, we couldn't do this out with without the donors. So, it it's big. Um we want to give a shout out to um Richard Marks. Now, you would you would you got two seconds to tell everybody about the furniture place?

Sure. So, Richard has donated space for us to use temporarily for a pop-up furniture mark. It's at the old LEV framing store on Dover Road across from Shore United Bank. So, all of the furniture is donated from members in the community. All of the help staffing it and delivering the furniture is all volunteers. So, 100% of every sale we make uh goes out into the community. So, we've been open two weekends so far and we've brought in a little over $8,000. It's pretty impressive. I mean, this community has really stepped up. Yeah. And when they find out the reason for the for their purchase and they actually put a nice small amount above that in the donation bucket. That's good. It's really good. That's good. Really good job. Really good job. And we really uh

um hands hands out to to Richard for helping us do that. So,

okay, come on up. We got we got a proclamation for you. Ready? One, two, three. Um, yeah, Mr. Callahan, the next presentation of the proclamation, if we could move that further down the agenda until we get to you. Okay. All right. No problem.

All right. So, Madam Secretary, let's go ahead and uh do the um presentation of the request of Uppershore Workforce Investment Board, please. That'd be good. So, I believe we have Ellen LeFranki here with us this Yeah, sure. Come on up. Yeah. How are you doing? I'm doing well. How are you? Well, that's good. I appreciate it. We're going to give you about 10 minutes here. Okay. Absolutely. Um, I just want to start by saying that um, I appreciate your time and and my allowance. Yeah. Would you mind introducing yourself to them, please? Yeah.

Uh, it's Ellen Leanki. I'm the executive director of the Upper Shore Workforce Investment Board, and I just want to say appreciate your time and allowing me to come to speak with you. Um, we sincerely value this continued support of the Talet County Council. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about uh uh the memorandum of understanding and resource sharing agreement. Um and I also want to thank you for appointing Dr. James Bell of BAM, Scott Warner of the Midshore Regional Council, Eric Daniels of Waters United Methodist Church, Mary Ellen Carter of Express Employment Professionals. They have been uh invaluable assets and we greatly appreciate their service to our organization. Our mission is to provide highquality career and training services to the residents of Talabet County with the goal of connecting individuals to meaningful employment opportunities within our region. This work is essential not only to individual job seekers but also to the overall economic health and stability of our communities. As mandated by the governor's workforce development board policy, the memorandum of understanding is the required and foundational document for a workforce system. It establishes how our key workforce partners collaborate to deliver coordinated highquality services to individuals and businesses. These partners include the Department of Labor, the Division of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Social Services, including the Talbet County Department of Social Services and Chesapeake College. Through this mandated framework, residents of Talbet County benefit from access to workforce training funds, industry recognized credent credentials and certifications, and comprehensive employment services that support their path to sustainable employment. At the same time, businesses

in Talet County benefit from a skilled and prepared workforce that is better positioned to meet their current and future workforce needs. And embedded within the memorandum of understanding is the resource sharing agreement which is also required. This agreement outlines the individual financial and inind contributions made by each participating agency. And I will say that we are not asking from funds from the county. We're not just concurrence. Um funding provided through the workforce innovation opportunity act along with other resources is detailed within this agreement and together these shared contributions support our collective mission and provide a clear and transparent framework for coordinating services maximizing efficiency and stretching funds so that we can serve as many individuals as possible. Our partner agencies have provided value input input into this process and have indicated their concurrence with these documents. Today, I respectfully request your concurrence as well in fulfillment of these policy requirements and in continued support of our collaborative efforts to strengthen the workforce and economic vitality of Talaba County. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. But again, we're not requesting funds, just a concurrence on these documents.

Okay. Good job. Any any questions? No, no questions. Just grateful for the services that you provide in uh in all the job training and opportunities that you provide to uh to our our area residents. Okay. Absolutely. We're happy to. Okay. Okay. Um, is there a motion? Uh, I'll move approval of the agreement. Okay, second. Okay, there's a motion second. Madam Secretary, could you call the vote? Mr. Callahan, I. Mr. Steppp, I. Mr. Leer, I. Miss Milky, I. Okay. All right. Good job. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it. Terrific. And we'll get that form back to you this week.

Yep.

Okay. Uh next um on the agenda we've got um Providence uh strategy. Mike, you want to come on up? Mike has been instrumental um in in keeping the council informed of what's going on over Annapolis. And I I tell you what, Mike, you've been you've been sharp as attack. That's for sure. And this is the first year that this council has done that. And you've done such a phenomenal job. I really I mean brought it up to speed and we met every week for what couple three months really a couple months anyway. So what a what a great job. So Mike's just going to give us a little bit of rundown. We'll give you um a few minutes to to to run it down but um you know I I do know you like to talk. I you do like to talk. Okay.

That is that is very fair. You know so so you got you got 10 minutes. Okay. Okay. So all right my man. Thank you. Well, I appreciate that, council chair and council members. For the record, uh Mike Mason with Providence Strategies. Uh

you know, as as you mentioned, this was the first year that uh to county kind of went and um sourced outside help and assistance for uh uh interfacing with the general assembly this year. So, you know, with our Thursday meetings that we had, uh, we were able to, you know, review 234 individual pieces of legislation, uh, weigh in on numerous things. Uh, especially capital budget items as well, too. Uh, we were able to, as one of the big wins this year was to add another half a million dollars into, uh, the county coffers from the state of Maryland for, uh, water and sewer extension out for the, uh, uh, regional medical center um, that's out there. We I would say accomplished a lot in sometimes our time frames of

sure

30 minutes sometimes as you as you mentioned council chair I ran over a little bit with the dense subject matter but you know we covered everything this year from education to land use uh policy uh a lot of housing bills this year that came through along with a lot of law enforcement public safety things as well. We weighed in on uh five different pieces of legislation. We worked with our local delegation uh as well. Um this year it was kind of a unique year obviously coming into an election year uh in the general assembly and getting some turnover with the midterms and so uh we'll see a lot of changes in the upcoming year uh for sure. We're estimating you know between 30 and 40 new folks that'll be in the House of Delegates uh you know turning over folks moving on and uh so I will say just kind of wrapping up for for housekeeping you know the governor's been signing bills into law today. They had their third bill signing. Today was probably one of the more robust days that we've had so far in Annapolis when it comes to it. Uh all the bill signings. So, you know, they have a little bit more time on the shot clock essentially to be able to sign those before they come into law. We should see pretty soon what's going to be potentially on the veto list as well too. Uh but bills that we tracked this year, I I think we were very successful in that uh and maintaining and protecting the money that was kind of fenced off for Toba County for capital projects as well. and we'll continue to work with the agencies through the summer. While the session is over, the regulatory process will start on um bills that have been passed in uh passed into law. And so, you know, we'll continue to stay engaged on that. And uh I I will say for uh you know, the council, it it's a quick summer and fall and then you're back in it again.

But, uh you know, the the 90 the 90-day period is uh you know, it's very enjoyable and it was very enjoyable working with the council this year and keeping everybody informed. Uh obviously I have a passion for local government uh which is I'm sure pretty evident by our calls but uh no it's been a great opportunity and I've really appreciated you know working with the council on all these uh I will say at times dense subject matter so I have provided the council with a uh some light reading it's a 77page uh legislative report uh so if you're you know spending the weekends nice weather outside and want to flip through it but that'll kind of capture all the bills that we reviewed this year uh and then everything else is available on Granicus as well. That's up there. But um for that, can I answer any questions to the council at all?

Any questions? Y not for me at the moment. Thank you. Okay. No question, but just uh especially the thanks and uh nice little cherry on top the ice cream sundae with the uh with the help for the the water sewer extension out to the hospitals. That was a Yeah, that was unexpected. So, thank you for that. Yep. Yep.

Of course. And like I said, Mike, I mean, you're just a a a great guy, very knowledgeable, and you know, what we've learned from you really takes us a long way, takes us to another level, and and it takes us and it really helps us with what the public wants and what's out there and trying to help, you know, the the the people of Tula County um know what's out there and, you know, and and trying to listen to them, what their needs are. So, you've done such a phenomenal job and really appreciate it. No, the quick response to our inquiries and information. The information was great because we haven't had access to that, you know, that quickly. You know, we just get something thrown at us. But you you you kept it going,

you know, for a couple months and kept us in the loop and and just like you said, you just kept us up on everything. So, really appreciate it. Yeah. And uh look forward to it. If there's anything constituent needs at all during the interim period, please let me know. Don't do not hesitate to reach out to me. any department heads or constituents and citizens here in Tula County and uh I'm sure I'll see you all Thursday at the business zone. So looking forward to to breakfast on Thursday with you. Exactly. Okay. Thank you. Awesome. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Callahan, I see that we do have members of our emergency medical services team with us here. So, if we'd like to go ahead and do that.

Yes. Go ahead. If you if you guys want to come on up um and we'll go ahead and give uh do a a proclamation of the National Emergency Medical Service Week. Um Madam Secretary, could you go ahead and read this into the record, please?

National Emergency Medical Services Week, May 17th through the 23rd, 2026. Whereas Emergency Medical Services is a vital public service, and the members of emergency medical services teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And whereas access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury. And whereas emergency medical services fills health care gaps by providing important out of hospital care, including preventative medicine, follow-up care, and access to tele medicine. And whereas the emergency medical services system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, administrators, prehosp nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, trained members of the public, and out of hospital medical care providers. And whereas the members of emergency medical services teams whether career or volunteer volunteer engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their life-saving skills. And whereas it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical service providers by designating an emergency medical services week. Now therefore, we the county council of Talbet County do hereby proclaim the week of May 17 through the 23rd, 2026 as Emergency Medical Services Week in Talbet County with the theme EMS week, improving outcomes together and encourage the community to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities in honor of the EMS profession and the essential service it provides. given under our hands and the

great seal of Talbet County this 12th day of May in the year of our Lord 2026. Okay. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Good job. Okay. Welcome, guys. Mr. President, like to make a motion before we do that. That sounds good. Second. Okay, we got a motion. Second. Madam Secretary, could you call the vote? Mr. Callahan. I. Mr. Ste. I. Mr. Lusher. I. Miss Milky. I. Okay. Thank you all. It's a privilege um for us to work in Talbet County and serve the citizens of Talbet County. Um, we had a few more that were coming, but wouldn't you know it, I think almost every paramedic unit was out 10 minutes ago.

So, um, it was, you know, hard for them to get here. So, they are definitely doing their job. We're doing a lot of good things. And, um, in the proclamation, it talked about all the partnerships and and, um, things that we do in Talbet County and we can't do it all by ourselves. We all do work together and do it. That's good. I appreciate it. Tina, would you introduce yourself and your teammates? Absolutely. Uh, Tina Kintop, EMS division chief. Jackie Rice, uh, Lieutenant, um, Captain Mitchell Lichi, and Andrew Dickerson, EMT. Good. That's great. That's great.

Thank you so much. Um, you don't do good things, you do great things. And we're so blessed to have you all such dedicated public servants. That's that make Tlby County a very safe place and and secure place um to live. So, thank you for all you do. Well, I can't say I I the number of friends and acquaintances who are who have been served by you, some of whom are alive because of your prompt and professional response. Uh you you deserve this recognition and thank you for all you do.

This will probably be the strangest thank you. I need to thank the four of you for being here in person, but more importantly, I'd like to thank those who were going to be here for not being here. They have uh much more pressing issues to handle. So, thank you guys for what you do, though. Uh day in day out, like is it said here 24/7, we thank you for all your No, you got it. Thank you.

And I want to I want to thank you and and I I something that doesn't a lot of people don't realize because I was there myself. I wanna I want to really thank the spouses and girlfriends and boyfriends because that's a big part of what you guys do and it's it's a family. You got a team around you. It's night and day. It's 247. So, I want to I want to thank those two um for for for putting up with us sometimes, you know, cuz sometimes it's tough, you know, and you're day in and day out. It's it's not I I can't go, it's you got to go, you know. So, we really really appreciate the dedication that you're you you gave us here in Toby County. We we're blessed to have you guys. That's for sure.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you. Appreciate it.

Oh, thank you for all you do. Okay. Um, back on the agenda, Madam Secretary, could you go ahead and, um, we're on the, uh, introduction of a number resolution. Could you go ahead and, uh, read that in, um, into the record, please? A resolution to amend resolution number 175 entitled a resolution to establish sewer service connection policies from the Unionville, Tunis Mills, and Copperville sewer service area low pressure force main collection system to the Royal Oak pump station for the purpose of providing that connection to the force main from property outside the sewer service area shall be permitted from improved properties where public sewer is available. subject to certain conditions.

Okay. Thank you. You guys want to come on up? Yep.

Council Ray Clark, county engineer. Josh Elliott, assistant county engineer. Uh just real quick, we did have a work session with the public advisory board and the county council on April 28th to review, I guess, um what you have before you tonight. And so we're here basically to support that. Uh this also deals with I think four uh compar plan resolutions resolutions um 388 to 391 which have been tabled at this point in time and we're hoping if we we can move forward um if this is adopted to go ahead and untable those resolutions.

Okay. All right. All right then. Um so All right. So, do we want to move this forward? Raise of hands. Show of hands for introduction. So, introduced by Steph Lester Callahan Adili. This will be known as resolution number 394 and the public hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 9th at 5:30 p.m. Okay. Thank you.

That sounds great. Okay. Thank you guys. Madam Secretary, you want to go ahead and um introduce um legislation now? A bill to amend chapter 190, zoning, subdivision, and land development of the Talbert County Code for the purpose of exempting corporate flags from the sign permit requirements and other requirements set forth in section 190-42 of the county code subject to certain conditions. Okay, Mr. Thomas. Yep. Yes. At the last meeting, council received a report uh from planning staff regarding the planning commission's recommendation

and then directed uh me to prepare a bill that uh would enact the same. So again, this bill is what the planning commission recommended. Okay. It it uh would permit corporate flags flown from a flag pole and displaying a business name, trademark or logo subject to certain conditions uh as exempt from the uh from having a signed permit. Okay. Okay. Any discussion from council?

Um uh we there was some discussion uh in the planning commission about this uh suggesting that the uh additional language specifying that the corporate flag be no larger than the government flag and I think that language is not yet in this draft.

Yes. So I believe sorry uh Brennan Tarlton uh planning director to county uh for the record. Um so I believe there was some uh discussion among several of the planning commission members regarding whether or not there should be specific limitations on the flag size relative to the government flag that's required to be flown with it based on uh the way this language was drafted. However, they did not make a formal motion that made that a requirement. So the the limitation that's included here would be for uh 40 square feet for the uh flag limitation of the corporate flag and then the fact that it must be flown in conjunction with or together with one or more government flags. Um so that was that was the actual motion that they made and approved. And I think there was some discussion thereafter regarding whether or not the um whether or not it may be necessary to to limit further uh the size of that flag to ensure that it is no larger than the government flag also flown that it would also be flown in conjunction with.

So if if that uh if that language were to be added at this point that would have to be uh done as a council amendment. Yes, I believe that could be done as a council amendment. It's it's not a substantive change. It's really just a a cl I mean you have the planning commission's recommendation. I think council has the discretion to make non-s substantive changes without having to send it back to the planning commission for further review. Terrific. Okay. And and the process at this point is that uh it's been before the planning commission so it does not barring substantive changes it does not need to go back there. This is simply council's hands at this point. That that is correct. Yes.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. um raise of hands moving forward. So introduced by Steph, Leer, Callahan, and Milky. This will be known as bill number 1626 and the public hearing will be on Tuesday, June 9th at 5:30 p.m. Okay, that sounds good. Thank you guys. I appreciate it. Okay. Um we're right on time. Okay, public hearing. The um next on the agenda is the public hearing on the community block grant. There you go. Mary Kay, how are you? Fine, thank you very much.

Okay. Okay. Might I'm not sure. It might not be on. Is it on? Oh, there we go. technology.

All right. So, my name is Mary Kay. Very. I'm the grants administrator for the county. Um, good evening and thank you very much for having us here. Um the department of housing community development block grant grant funded the for all seasons renovation project and we are here this evening for the second public hearing. For all seasons provides essential behavioral health and rape crisis services. The renovated space is designed to support a trauma-informed care approach in an environment that prioritizes safety, privacy, and emotional comfort. The grant started in September of 2024 and is set to end on July 31st of 2026. for All Seasons received $750,000 in CDBG funds, $100,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA, $300,000 from the Maryland Department of General Services, and a $100,000 grant from the Harry and Janette Weinberg Fund. The current project cost is just over 1.2 million. Once renovated, all once renovations are complete, the four all seasons will be required to track beneficiaries until 750 persons are served.

There were multiple pre-bid conferences held and Harper and Suns were selected as a general contractor in March of 2025 and construction began on July 1st, 2025. We host bi-weekly meetings on site to address the progress and any concerns that may come up. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for August 11th at 2:30 p.m. DHCD staff and the secretary day will be in attendance and we hope to see some council members as well. Um, one of the biggest transition areas to me is the twotory entrance area of the lobby that was converted to one story when they put the ceiling above here and enclosed the space for the second floor which created a private comforting client space with a great window. The older multi-stall bathrooms were replaced and updated with ADA accessible singleperson bathrooms. So they went from the older style to a more comforting larger family style restrooms. New offices were designated with privacy and comfort in mind and large conference rooms were divided into multiple offices. There's new flooring, paint, doors, and fixtures installed down the hallways. The elevator and stairwells were upgraded with new lighting, walls, flooring, and paint. The second floor renovations are largely complete. Harper and Suns and the subcontractors are working on the first

floor upgrades and exterior improvements at this time. And we want to thank the county council, the department of housing and community development. And I want to personally thank and say it's been a pleasure to work with the staff of for all seasons, Harper and Suns, and Ralph Engineering on this project. So again, we are here for a second public hearing and I know that there are staff here from each of those agencies. like to give them an opportunity to speak if they would like and the project is really on target and a great improvement.

Okay, that sounds good. Okay, so I I'll go ahead and we we'll do that one first. Um we'll go ahead and open um the public hearing on the four seasons um grant. Um was there anybody that would love to come on up? Hi everybody. It's great to be with you. Beth and Dorman, president and CEO of For All Seasons. Um, you know, the pictures, it's interesting to even sit in the gallery and look at the pictures. This is a long time coming.

This building was not renovated uh since the 70s. And so we are really really thankful to all of you. Your support to Mary Kay, to Harper and Sons, and to Ralph. What we are able to do with this new building is invest in the workforce. We have hired six new people since the renovation started. We are slated to hire seven more. We've also been operating as an agency in a building that did not provide enough space for the services we provide. And this renovation has allowed us to not only add offices, but we have been operating in a a tall street office and in a teal office behind Walmart. And it allows us to bring all of our services under one building.

We also moved our administrative staff downtown onto Dover Street. And so this really was essential for us to be able to increase our psychiatry staff, increase our therapy staff. We've increased our rape crisis center staff and really now now working with our first responders who were just here. We're very much a part of that community. We're also digging in deeper with our veterans and it's creating a space where the goal at for all seasons is when people walk through our doors, they feel like they're walking into a living room space and comfort and not uh, you know, a sterile environment. And so, thank you. Thank you from all of our team. The impact that it's going to give back to this community is greater access to services. is we are already operating on our open access no weight list services but now we can hire more therapists. We've brought in an additional psychiatry team member which means that we have five psychiatrists on staff now and that's huge. That's more than most agencies have in a lifetime and we've got it all right here in Talba County. And so just from the bottom of our heart and from all of our staff, we're almost hundred strong staff-wise from the board of directors just a huge thank you for your support in helping to make all this happen. Thank you.

Yeah. Um I remember when Foral Season started and it was in a little office behind a parking in park parking lot and so you all have come a long way and really to great benefit to our community. So thank you for all you do and um this expansion is uh well earned and well needed. Thank you. So good to grant it to you. Mhm. Congratulations. I look forward to seeing the facilities in person. We'll look forward to all being with us on the 11th of August at 2:30.

I'll let go of the thanks. And like I said, if anyone doesn't know who you are, by now, especially with the uh the big billboard out on 50, one of the the very few the very few in the county that you guys now have, they uh they know where to find you. So, uh thanks for all you do. Yep. Thanks for all you do. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Okay.

Okay. Anybody else like to to come up for all seasons? Okay. Um Okay. If you close that public hearing, then I I can start on the next project. Okay. Um I I wasn't sure. Um Hey, Jess. On on this, do you want me to go ahead and close the public hearing on this or do we keep it open? Um yeah, you can go ahead and close the public hearing, please. For all seasons,

okay, so we'll go ahead and close the public hearing on um for all seasons. Okay. Next would be um that what are we doing? Are we doing a neighborhood service center next? These are the food pantries. Okay, good. Okay. Yep.

Again, thank you very much. Um, the Department of Housing Community Development Community Development Block Grant Corona Virus Ergent Response Program was created under the federal CARES Act in response to COVID 19 and is geared toward providing supporting providing and supporting food security and food service programs. Our local subreients this round are the neighborhood service center on Port Street in Easton and the St. Michael's Community Center Railroad Avenue in St. Michaels. Toba County's original grant in 2020 provided 150,000 to the St. Michaels Community Center and 100,000 to the Upper Shore of for aging senior food program. In early 2025, Tobac County received $116,500 to support the neighborhood service center and the St. Michael's Community Center food programs. Additional funds were approved in November of 2025, providing each subreient with an additional $75,000. All funds are to be spent by 20 the end of 2026, June, sorry, June of 2026. Um the neighborhood service c center's original allocation supported the purchase of food shelving a lift gate for their delivery truck and food pantry staff. They were able to install new shelving and better organization of their food program. Their second allocation of $75,000 continues to support the food program and added funds for a replacement refrigerator and a new refrigerator and replacement HVAC C unit. Um, I just received another invoice this evening, so they're very close to spending their full amount and

and reaching that goal of of the deadline. I think their only remaining is the staffing, which will take them into June. This grant has assisted 357 households and 707 individuals. The neighborhood service center food pantry hours are from 10 a.m. to 400 p.m. Monday through Friday with extended hours on Wednesday until 700 p.m. The mobile food pantry delivery is every other Wednesday by appointment. The other subreient is the St. Michael's Community Center. In early 2025, they received 48,500 to assist with hot meals and food pantry supplies and shelving. Staffing support allowed the increase of their food pantry hours. The additional 75,000 allocation provides food program food supplies, equipments, and staffing hours. In addition to the food pantry bags, deliveries, and hot meals funded by the Department of Housing, Community Development, the St. Michael's Community Center program supports youth, family, and senior activities, camps, parties, and trips. Through 2026, the St. Michael's Community Center will continue various community efforts and services. They are open from 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday with food distribution Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 to 3:00 p.m. and Monday and Thursday from 5 to 7:00 p.m. Again, we would like to thank Tobac County and the Department of Housing and Community Development and a special thank you to the St. M St. Michael's Community Center and the Neighborhood

Service Center um for being such good people to work with, providing great opportunities for the public, and always being on target when I keep bugging them for different things that I need. So, it's really been a great pleasure working with both of those agencies. So, again, we're here this evening as a second public hearing. Mhm. So, we would like to allow representatives from those agencies to come forward if they would like and or anyone from the public that has comments on these programs. Okay. All right. So, we'll we'll go ahead and open a public hearing and one of you guys.

Okay. Yep. Hi. Hi.

Amy Horn, um, executive director for the St. Michael's Community Center and I would just like to thank all of the the county council and I would especially like to thank Mary Kay for all of her work um, keeping us informed, keeping us on target. I know we're not always an easy bunch to work with and so she has just done a phenomenal job with assisting us with funding and grants. Somewhere on one of those slides, I know it also said that last year in 2025, between our three food programs, we provided 50,494 meals for Tobat County residents. And we are actually um unfortunately we are on track to exceed that number of meals this year for 2026. and but we are grateful for the support we've received to improve our ability to make food accessible for folks in the Bayund um folks especially when transportation is such a barrier for people to get down to the neighborhood service center and so thank you for allowing us to bring these resources directly to residents of St. Michael's in the Bayund.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. So, I'll just tell you real quick a quick just a story about a lady who came in um two days away from her SNAP benefits, her monthly SNAP benefits. She just wanted enough food for those two days for she and her four children uh estrange from her husband. So, it was a very sad situation. She was adamant she would not take more food because she didn't want to take it from others. Um through your good graces, with your funding, we're now working um to pick up fresh produce. Um, at Teddy Bear Fresh, we had a large cooler within it that day happened to be apples. I offered her a bag of apples. She would have thought I was literally giving her a million dollars for children.

So, I think that we need to be well aware that our walk in life is so much easier than many others. Um, and the it's it's just it's tough to see the people that we serve in such dire situations. The only other thing I'll let you know about, and again through your good graces of funding, we we pick up um dale bread and things of that sort in the community um from some of our community partners and we have food lines forming in front of the neighborhood service center at 7:30 in the morning. Moms with small children,

elderly, seniors, disabled. So, you know, when you look at the definition of of breadline in the dictionary, because I did it goes back to the Great Depression, and I just want to make sure and Amy agrees, our job is to put a spotlight on the fact that no, we have bread lines today in 2026 in Taba County. So, as much of a challenge as it is, it would be that much greater if we didn't have the support of you all through these block grant funds to provide food for the most needy in the community. So, thank you.

Thank you. And if I could just add one other thing because um as Andy is sharing some of the same things that I've shared just to make all of you aware, Andy and I do communicate with each other and we're talking about ways that we can you know have strength in buying power or ways that we can collaborate together um you know to support residents here in Talbet County. Yeah. So we just recently opened up evening hours for the working poor who can't go to the food pantry during the day. Coordinated with the St. Michael's Community Center. They have a day coordinated with St. Vincent Nepal. So they have a day. We have three full evenings now. Yep. Where people can come shop that uh two months ago they didn't have anything if they weren't able to come during the day. So yes, the communication is critical and it's very positive.

Yeah. Okay. Okay. Great. Any discussion there? Yeah. Nothing to discuss. Okay. Okay. It's great what you all do. It is. It's great. Keep it up. Yeah. Well, I mean, we we know we know that the need is is enormous uh and growing, but so is your capacity to meet that and and we're we're very grateful that uh that you now have this increased capacity to uh help with the the needs of the community. Right. Thank you guys. Appreciate it. Thank you.

Anybody else would like to come up and and and say a few words? Okay. So, we'll go ahead and and close the public hearing on that. Yep. Almost done. Okay. All right. Great. Is there anything else I need to do? Um um I think that's it. But just again a a huge thank you to Mary Kay who is uh working for us on a part-time basis, but she does an outstanding job really um working with local nonprofits in our community doing very important work.

Well, that's what I was getting ready to say too is is Mary Kay, you left before you we could talk to you here. So, but but honestly, thanks so much for for your help because I mean, you're you're doing work for the community and it's extremely important for you to do it right and be able to get the money. You know what I mean? It's a it's a lot involved and especially um working with these organizations to um get that money for them. And it's it's crucial that we get this money. Um, it's certainly been my pleasure and like I said, the nonprofits have been great to work with, right? And I'm sorry that we can't always

find the source or the amount that they're looking for, but we always try to find alternatives, right, and provide them with some other resources and things that could potentially help them. So, yeah, we're going to continue to keep trying. Okay. Well, thank thanks for your good work. I appreciate it. Thank you very much. Okay. Okay. All right. That's good work. All right. Um, since Clay's not here, you know, so I know it's it's just stuff now.

Okay. Thank you, council. We we do not have any board and committee appointments this evening. Um, the first agenda item is a request for a letter in support of the town of Easton's application for a highway safety improvement program grant funding for rapid flashing beacon activation signals at high volume pedestrian crossing areas. All this to say that the town of East is applying for a grant. They are seeking a letter of support. There are no county funds required and this initiative will focus on high volume crossing areas in within the town. Okay. All right. I'll move to issue the letter of support. Second. Okay. We got a motion. Second. Madam Secretary, could you call the vote? Mr. Callahan. I. Mr. Stef. I. Mr. Leer. I.

Miss. Milky. I. Great. And next, I'll ask Tommy Haway, the director of the Department of Technical Services to come up. We are requesting um a council support to award a contract for the redesign of the county website to um GHD digital in the amount of $77,659 by piggybacking on a federal GSA contract and this is a project that Sarah Kilman will be assisting Tommy with. Good evening, council. Um so the current county website um is more than 10 years old. Can you introduce yourself? Sure. Tommy Hataway, director of technical services.

Um, so the current website uh has not had a redesign. Um, currently there are ADA mandates um being put on local governments and state governments um to provide accessible websites um for the people. um being a smaller county, we do have until 2028 that was recently extended from 2027. Um but uh the current website does not meet uh those requirements. So this upgrade um would bring us into compliance u moving forward.

So I just for the public wanted to provide a little bit more information of why we're doing a website. Um my name is Sarah Kilman. I'm the public information officer for Talabet County. Um, so our website is one of the main primary ways that people interact with the county government. For many residents, it's the first place they go to find information, access services, reading agendas and minutes, all that good stuff, sign up for updates, or learn about what's happening in our community. Um, and I did just pull some data because I was curious. Just yesterday alone, the website was accessed by 821 individual users. And over the last 30 days, residents submitted 88 questions through the county's website chatbot. That really shows how important the website is um and how it is a public information tool for the county. The reality is, as Tommy mentioned, that our current site was built for a different time. Over the years, we've added more content, more services, and more public information tools, but the overall structure is being harder harder to navigate and maintain. This project will give us the opportunity to modernize the way in the website in a way that is more organized, easier to use and better suited for how people actually access information today. Um, and that includes mobile devices, ADA compliance, um, different languages is also included in this as well. One of the reasons we selected our the contractor that we picked is because they focus on building government digital infrastructure around the needs of the public sector. their team and product will give us feedback to build around services, accessibility, and long-term sustainability. Um, when it comes to a government website, you can't just go out and pick Joemo for for doing a website. You do have to find someone that is specific for our industry. So, that took a little bit of time and I feel like we've found one that is good. Um, and so again, from our perspective,

this project is really about improving access to information. We want residents to be able to see what they need more easily, whether that's a county form, public meeting, department contact, or emergency update. It will help our departments manage information more consistently and make it easier for us as a staff to update content around um around and across the organization. Um, and we've been working for the last couple years to improve public information tools through engaged Talbit, Gov delivery, online meeting access, and expanded digital outreach. This website redesign is really just the next step in that process.

Okay, that sounds great and much needed. Thank you. I've also seen that as a smaller county uh we're we're a year behind the deadline for the larger counties and and uh fortunate to have that time but I presume this will this will uh bring us well within the uh the deadlines. Absolutely. Yes.

Yes. And one thing I did want to mention that Tommy and I have talked about is that part of the the challenge of the ADA compliance is that it's a lot of burden on the individuals that are publishing to the site. they have to make sure it's following certain standards and and it's hard to remember all that in your head. So, the software we've chosen kind of does a little bit of that work for you and reminds you when you need to add tags and all this stuff that has to be available. Um, and so I think that's going to make it a lot easier for staff to to make changes without freaking out. Okay. Nothing.

Okay, guys. Okay. All right. Is Is there a motion? Uh, I'll move to approve the uh the contract. Second. Okay, we got a motion. Second. Secretary, could you call the vote? Mr. Callahan. I. Mr. Stepp. Hi. Mr. Leer. Hi. Miss Milky. Hi. Okay. Good job. Thank you so much.

Thank you. And that's all this evening. Mr. Callahan, thank you. Is that all you have? That's it. Okay, good job. Good job.

You're a lot quicker than Clay. You know what I mean? Lot quick, you know. Okay. Um, public comment. There he is. Come on up. Again, for the record, my name is Phil Rian, 29736 Sullivan Drive in Easton, which is located in the V in the community of Eastn Club East. Um, you know, there are times when I sit here and monitor these meetings and and have no intention of making a public comment and except that I'm struck by the content of the meeting itself. And this is one of those examples. Um, you folks do a tremendous job of recognizing people who don't want any recognition. I'm talking about volunteers. They don't volunteer because they want to be recognized. They want to vol they volunteer because they recognize a need and try to meet that need. But you give them an opportunity to to be shown to the rest of the community what they do, all the positive things they do. And it and it goes beyond just simply volunteers. You also recognize needs as they occur or as they may expand

where tax supported resources need to be spent for those areas. And you you recognize those people because most of them as you well know go way beyond what they're being paid to do because they believe in what they're doing. So I think that uh simply the fact that you provide these people recognition you I as someone who would be here being recognized I can assure you when I went back to my job I'd be more motivated than I was when I came in.

Right. So, and it's all because of the of the environment that you folks create. And I I you know, I don't think you've got nearly enough credit for it, but I want to take this opportunity on behalf as one member of the public to congratulate you once again. Um, one other thing I would like to I would like to say. Um, I said here a year ago, almost a year ago, when I learned that you had hired a government relations firm to represent you in the Maryland State Legislature that you made a smart decision. Now, you don't need me to tell you that. You know, you obviously knew it yourself. and uh um Providence Strategies making a presentation here today uh regarding the what happened in the last Maryland legislative session. Uh you know, I can't begin to imagine and the fact that they meet with you every week during the legislative session is huge. Um, I I'm I'm I'm just really thrilled that you made this decision because I know how I know how confused a congressional session or or a Maryland legislative session can be

when everybody's scrambling to go home when they're scrambling to go home. And Maryland continues to have a 90-day legislative session. I I don't know how they all get it done. And you folks, I mean, you have no other way of knowing except through Mako perhaps, right? But Mako is a is a statewide county representative organization. It doesn't necessarily represent you. And so I I I congratulate you for that. And and and I do think that um uh it's money well spent and I'm happy to pay my taxpayer dollars for for that service. That's good to hear. That's good. That's good. Thanks.

Thank you very much. Appreciate that. Thanks for the good comments. Okay. Um, any anybody else? Yes, sir. Come on up.

And I think I'm standing between you and dinner, but I will be brief. Good evening. Um, I'm Doug Holly and I live on 29662 Janet's Way in East. um and also in East Club, East neighborhood. Uh so I'm the curriculum chair for the Chesapeake Forum, an organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities on the Eastern Shore. And about a year ago, Lynn Mily and I started a discussion about how to encourage increased civic engagement in Talet County. Lynn shared with me the many ways the community can participate. And out of that discussion came the idea for a program about the business of Talbet County, how the county operated and how others can get involved. She brought Pete Leer in on the discussion and I also believe Sarah did a lot of work in putting it together and they put together a very informative and engaging series of presentations that was held at the Eastn Library. So, I'm here from the Chesapeake Forum because I would like to thank the uh committee for their support in putting that program together. Um, it was extremely wellreceived. We had over 50 people attend. Many people commented on how much they learned. They also were impressed with how complex and broad the county's operations were. And most importantly, they all came away with an a new appreciation for what Talbot County does, excuse me, for its residents.

Um, I'm a recent come here. Uh, I've been here three years, but I came from Montgomery County, which is the wealthiest county in the state. And let me tell you, it's well equipped with everything. But I got to say, Talet County punches well above its weight. So, thank you very much. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you, Doug. Yep. Anybody else like to come up? I see my main man in the back there. He's smiling anyway, you know. Yep. Say something quick. You're right.

Yeah. My name is Fami Fami. I'm the Tabot County Health Officer and I would like to second the gentleman uh two gent two people before me uh my sincere appreciation for the county members and their support for the Talbert County Health Department. Uh just about two hours ago I visited the new introduction of having a garden ever done in the Talbot County Health Department. We're having it across from the Early Head Start next to the elementary Eastern School and it's really something that I'm very proud of it and the Dut County County Council helping us in doing that is really felt and appreciated.

That's great. And the fact that you're supporting our county in getting and our department in getting the ribbon cutting means a lot to me. I already took my hat. I don't have any other hat to take off but I cannot say how appreciative as a health officer and the department in total for your support. It meant a lot for us. Thank you Dr. Thank you. Appreciate it. Appreciate it. Okay. Um I I'm just assuming we didn't have a a list out there. Correct. Yeah. Okay. All right. No problem. All right. Let's get things wrapped up with council. No comments comments. Thank you. I I have nothing for councelor. Okay. Just really quickly, y

a week from tomorrow, that is um May 20th, Mhm. the there'll be a senior resource fair at the um East Fire Company. Um it's um a fair to o open to older adults, caregivers, family members, and anyone interested in learning about services and resources available to seniors in Tula County. There'll be like 35 vendors, which I think is a record that we're going to have and delicious food. We have a really good vendor.

So, um, it runs from, uh, 10 to 1:00. So, turn out whether you're old or young. So, I don't think I qualify, do I? I said old. I said old or young. All right. Um, I don't have anything either. So, um, I appreciate everybody coming. Um, if you want to go ahead. The county council's next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26th, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The council will be convening open session at 3:30 p.m. and then adjouring into close session as listed on the statement for closing that meeting. Therefore, is there a motion to

Sorry, excuse me. And I just wanted to add one thing. We have confirmed that the council will be meeting on Monday, May 18th at 4 PM. the um county board of education confirmed that just a few minutes ago. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. Uh so we will be meeting then. Therefore, is there a motion to adjourn this meeting and reconvene as noted? Yes, there is. Is there a second? Sure. Okay. Got a motion second. Madam Secretary, could you call the vote? Mr. Callahan. I Mr. Stepp. I Mr. Leer. I Miss Milky. Okay. Thank Thank you for coming. Appreciate it. Thank you everybody. Good job. Good job.