County Council - Regular Meeting

water. Thank you all for being here. Uh would you all please join me uh rise as we uh go through an opening prayer followed by the pledge of allegiance.

Let us pray. Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you for this day. God, we thank you for everyone that is assembled here on this evening. Lord, we ask that you bless us as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving on this week. bless those that have and bless those that do not have. God, we ask that you continue to lead, guide, and direct this council as we make decisions and be with us every step of the way. We pray for our community and everyone that lives in Talet County, our police officers, our emergency services staff, our nurses, our doctors, everyone in our community. In the mighty and precious name of Jesus, we pray on this evening. Amen.

Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you again uh for joining us this evening. Uh council has an agenda in front of it. Uh are there any additions or corrections to the to the agenda? Uh any additions or deletions to the agenda? If not, uh the chair will move that the agenda be accepted with unanimous consent. And we have minutes of the October 28th and November 4th meetings. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes?

Nope. Hearing none, the chair will move that the minutes be approved with unanimous consent. Uh we have record of the dispersements of November 11th, November 18th, and November 25th before us. Are there any questions uh for staff on the dispersements?

Hearing none, uh the chair moves that the dispersements be approved with unanimous consent. Uh, next up, uh, we have, uh, a council commendation for our for Hannah Ward, our Maryland 911 board communication specialist of the year. Holly Gushki, uh, are you here to present uh, Hannah to us?

Please come come up to the table. Thank you, M. Thank you, council. Welcome, Mr. I'll turn it over to Holly. So, Holly is the division chief that oversees the 911 center and uh she's the one that put Hannah up for this award with a welldeserving award. Hannah's one of the shining stars, only been with us, uh going on two years, uh but has really grasped the job and excels at it and is one of the calming voices on the other end of the 911 line when people call out for help. So, I'll turn it over to Holly. you can read her uh um what she her um commendation

whatever accommodation that she presented or um applied for and turned over and I'll just sit in the background for a little

good evening. Um so every year the state of Maryland um gives an award to every county for the 911 communication specialist of the year. Um, this year we allow our employees to vote and they overwhelmingly voted for Hannah. Um, Hannah Ward has been employed with Toba County DEES since July 2023 and she's currently a communication specialist, too. Um, it is with great pride and enthusiasm that we nominate Hannah award for the 911 communication specialist of the year. Hannah consistently exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding dispatcher through her unwaving dedication, professionalism, and positive presence in the workplace. She approaches each shift with a calm, teachable spirit and consistent positive attitude, even in the most pressure situations. She is a true team player who not only supports her own shift, but regularly steps up to assist others in covering open shifts, handles radio traffic, and lends a hand wherever she can. Her flexibility and reliability are unmatched, and she consistently goes above and beyond without hesitation. She handles emergency calls with clarity and compassion. Her ability to stay organized and prioritized under pressure ensures that callers receive the critical assistance they need while nothing falls through the cracks. Hannah's multitasking skills, attention to detail, and calm demeanor make her a steady, trusted president during even the most chaotic moments. Beyond her technical skill, what truly sets Hannah apart is her attitude. She is a breath of fresh air, supportive, respectable, respectable, and generally enthusiastic about her role. She provides exceptional customer service, treating every caller and colleague with kindness and empathy. Her commitment to excellence combined with her humility and willingness to grow makes her not only a value team

player, but also a clear future leader within our center. Hannah a Ward is an integral part of our team and exemplifies the very best of what 911 dispatchers should be. For exceptional service, positive influence, and tireless dedication, she truly deserves the title of 911 communication specialist of the year. Well, congratulations.

Thank you. Having heard all that, shall we uh ask the secretary to read the commendation into the record? Council's commendation to Hannah Ward, the Maryland 911 Board 911 Communication Specialist of the Year, for her outstanding service and dedication to public safety through 911 communications through her demonstration of professional, courteous, and responsive service to county citizens using the Talet County 911 emergency system with calmness, clarity, and compassion, and for her multitasking skills, attention to detail, and positive attitude toward her job and the respect, kindness, and empathy shown to both callers and colleagues. We hereby bestow upon you as a token of the esteem and gratitude of our community this certificate of commendations this 25th day of November, 2025.

Do we have a motion to award the commendation? So moved. How about the second? Third. Would the secretary please call the role? Mr. Call. Mr. Bleser, I. Mr. Steppp, I. Miss Milky I. Miss H. I uh any any council remarks?

I I'll start it off um if you don't mind. So, uh Holly, thank you for for your kind words. Brian, thank you for your kind words. But, uh Hannah, just thank you for what you do. Um I I love the three words in here. I think I I I want to just call out myself, right? So, uh where' they go? The three the three C's, calmness, clarity, and compassion. Um, I just want everyone to just imagine if you've ever had a call into 911, you're not having a good day, right? People aren't calling to say hi. These are most of the times probably one of the worst days of their lives. You for you to just be there to answer them and to help them, get them the resources they need is just it's just awesome. I love doing this every year. Congratulations. Just keep it up. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else from council? Just congratulations, Hannah, and thank you for all that you do. Thank you. And thank you for your invaluable service. Thank you. We we we know what a valuable link you are uh at the very beginning of the emergency services project uh process and uh and to be recognized by your own colleagues. Uh that's that's really something. Congratulations. Thank you again. Would would you like to come forward then and receive the certificate?

Sure. I know. Ready? Next, we have a proclamation for hunger and homelessness awareness month for November. Uh would the secretary please uh read that into the record? Proclamation Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month, November 2025. Whereas November is recognized as Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month to bring attention to the plight of individuals and families experiencing hunger and/or homelessness, which affects people of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds, and is an area of concern in our community. And whereas there are a myriad of reasons why people experience hunger and/or homelessness, including the shortage of affordable housing, lack of a living wage, trauma, the ability to no longer work due to age or health conditions, expensive or inaccessible health care, serious mental health challenges or substance use. An education of the public is needed to encourage support for hunger and homelessness assistance service providers. And whereas There are many organizations in Talbet County committed to sheltering and providing supportive

services as well as meals and food supplies to individuals and families experiencing hunger and homelessness including Talbet interfaith shelter neighborhood service center. Vincent Depal, Midshore Roundtable on Homeless, homelessness at Midshore Behavioral Health, Toba County Public Schools, McKenna Vento Homelessness Assistance Program, and Midshore Council on Family Violence. And whereas the theme of hunger and homelessness awareness month is to promote understanding and compassion toward those who are experiencing hunger and/or homelessness and to advocate for solutions to end hunger and homelessness by providing sustenance and housing stability. And whereas the county council of Talbet County recognizes that hunger and homelessness continue to be a serious problem for many individuals and families in our area. And whereas the intent of hunger and homelessness awareness month is consistent with the activities of local organizations working to address hunger and homelessness. Now therefore, we the county council of Talbet County do hereby proclaim November as hunger and homelessness awareness month in Talbet County and encourage all citizens to recognize that many people do not have adequate food and housing and need support from citizens and private public nonprofit service entities given under our hands in the great seal of Talbert County this 25th day of November in the year of our Lord 2025. I need a motion to issue the proclamation.

So moved. Have a second. Would you call the role, please? Mr. Leer. I. Mr. Stepp. I. Miss Milky. I. Miss Hayes. Hi.

And I see we have uh Miss Julie Low here. Uh would you like to offer any words uh any further explanation on uh what we're doing for homeless hunger and homeless awareness month? Do you have any partners that you brought today, too? Um, I didn't bring anybody today. I'm representing everybody on the proclamation. Um, we are very grateful to the Talbert County Council for making this proclamation. Um, homelessness is something that we all need to consider. As the time goes on, it's get growing more and more. We have 140 people on our weight list and we are at capacity in both of our shelters and our transitional housing. Um, we are also looking at senior homelessness as a a special challenge, shall we say? Um, because our program, we encourage people to work and save their money so they can get back into the rental market. Um, but with seniors, that's a totally different picture. So, I appreciate the council's concern with that as well, and I just want to thank you for this proclamation and recognizing that November is hunger and homelessness awareness month.

Thank you. Any any questions or remarks from council? I have one. Julie, first and foremost, thank you and all of your partners for all that you do to help to county with this. Just one question. Um, how many does your shelter house? Both of your um, shelters for homelessness. In the family shelter, we can house five families of all different sizes. Okay. In the single shelter, we house 14 individuals. And then in our transitional housing, we have 21 units. Some are houses, some are apartments, and there's 30 to 40 people in those at any given time. So, at any time, we're housing more than 60 people. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll just add quickly for Kim, Mr. Vice President. So, I I'll just I'll just echo the thanks. Um like you said, you're representing a lot of a lot of organizations here and a lot a lot of organizations do a lot of key work here in Tul County. I know there's there's places you can drive in this county. You think there'd be no way we have a homelessness problem. But as as uh you guys are bringing to light, we do. And I just want to thank you guys for all that you all do, for all the organizations to uh to helping out here in the ways that you do. Thank you. You have anything further?

Just um thank you for all you do and homelessness is a big issue and the the more problems we have with our economy, the more this problem is going to grow. So, it's I'm glad you're all there. Thank you. This this is indeed the the issue of our time and and uh thanks for what you and all the other partner organizations are doing. As uh as Mr. Steppp said, couldn't do it without all of us working on this problem.

Indeed. Indeed. Well, uh thank you and uh we've got a proclamation for you. Mr. Steppp has it. If you'd want to come forward for the photos, Thank you.

And uh that's not the only proclamation for this evening. We also have one for the 40th anniversary of the Festival of Trees. Uh if the secretary would uh read the proclamation into the record, please. 40th anniversary Festival of Trees 2025. Whereas the Friends of Hospice will be hosting the f Festival of Trees from Friday, November 28th through Tuesday, November December 2nd, 2025 in the gold room of the Tidewater Inn in East with the theme of 40 years of silver and gold. And whereas the Festival of Trees was started by Lesie Wear and MIJ Mensis. And whereas the Festival of Trees offers many events for everyone to enjoy, including the signature event, the Festival of Trees in the Gold Room of the Tidewater Inn, the preview gala, carols by candlelight, Santa's 5K run, poinsettia sale, and luminary sale. And whereas 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the Festival of Trees and funds raised from the Festival of Trees help support the Tallbit Hospice Foundation which provides professional team oriented care to patients faced with a lifelimiting illness in an atmosphere of comfort and dignity. And whereas November is recognized as National Hospice and Palative Care Month. And since its inception 40 years ago, the Festival of Trees has raised more than $3.7 million for the Talbet Hospice Foundation. Now therefore, we the county council of Talbet County do hereby recognize November 28th through December 2nd, 2025 as Festival of Trees week and acknowledge the dedicated work of Lesie Wear and Mij Menses and the entire Friends of Hospice board and festival of trees chairs in arranging this year's events. And further, the council urges all citizens to support Friends of

Hospice and therefore the Talbet Hospice Foundation by purchasing tickets for the festival of trees and participating in the many events planned given under our hands in the great seal of Talbet County this 25th day of November in the year of our Lord 2025. We have the proclamation before us. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. A second. Would the secretary call the role please? Mr. Lusher I. Mr. Stepp I. Miss Milky I. Miss Haye I.

And that is approved. And uh we have congratulations. Folks here from Festival Trees. you have exciting news to tell us about how Festival of Trees uh is going for its 40 40th anniversary this year. And would you like to introduce you would you like to introduce yourselves and and the group? Yes. Um I'm Leslie Wear Mitch Menses Carla Terry Dale Jafari behind me Salsbury.

Yes. So, we are busy at work over in the gold room um the last 48 hours setting up for our 40th anniversary of the Festival of Trees. And um we are overwhelmed by the support that this amazing community has given us for 40 years. Um, and for those of you who didn't know, the um the seed that started all of this was um we witnessed firsthand um 42 years ago the compassionate care that um Talbet Hospice gave to Midget's um mother-in-law, Virginia Fuller. And um after she passed away, we went to Tobet Hospice. And at that point, it was a little corner office in the health department and we walked down the hall and saw this door that said Tobat Hospice. And MIJ and I walked in and said, "What can we do?" And it was Millie Parrot, Bets Guthrie, and um

Dr. Yeah. Dr. Guthrie and Kathy Foster. And we said, "What can we do?" and they said um we need to spread the word of what hospice care is and we also need to um raise money and hence um uh the festival of trees was born at that point. We went down and there was one in the country down in Wilmington, North Carolina. And MIJ and I flew down and spoke to the chairman there and spent the next year um writing how we were going to do this and forming committees and um forming friends of hospice. And so here we are in our 40th year. It's 40 years of silver and gold. And it is a magical room there. If you all walked in right now, you would see um how wonderful this community, the sponsors, the decorators, the volunteers, um everybody that partakes um in this amazing event, and we're very proud of what we've done in the in the 40 years.

Well, you you've you've got a wonderful event. I get there uh year after year. Uh and and it is a community event. It's it's it's more than simply a fundraiser. It's a it's a wonderful gathering of community. Uh it is one of one of my one of my reasons for getting there has been uh the musical performances uh by all the students with East Middle School band or with uh with various private teachers in the community. It's it's really a wonderful occasion that uh for for all of that that showcases not only the the skills of the the the decorators of the v various trees but so much of our community. So, thank you for all you do. Thank you. Any other council members?

I'll echo what uh Mr. Leer said. Um this is a wonderful community event and I look forward to attending this year with my grandson who will be two. So, I'm excited about that. So, thank you all the committee for all that you do and MIJ uh for the two of you for starting this uh 40 plus years ago. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Um I'm proud to say that I was involved with hospice from the very beginning and my um new father-in-law unfortunately was diagnosed with cancer and he was in hospice and he passed and the Milkys got together and I think they decorated the first trees with the lights. Mhm.

You know, they didn't get trees with lights, but all the trees had to be lit. And so, we were all doing that. And it was, it was just, it was just wonderful. It was just a wonderful thought and a wonderful recognition of um the citizens of of Talba County and and of course you all for what you do. And thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you very much.

This is um this is definitely the week of thanks. Uh no no if ends or buts about it. Uh this these are always my favorite parts of our meetings, right? We we all have a lot to business to get through, but you know, just the fact that we get to recognize, you know, folks like yourselves uh who are just taking on important causes that we have in our community. It's just it's nice to make sure we can recognize you, praise you guys, give thanks to you all, and uh just just keep doing what you all are doing. It's wonderful. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Right. Thank you very much. Sorry, my apologies. Thank you. Congratulations. Next, we have the introduction of an administrative resolution. Uh, if the secretary would please read that into the record.

You want me to read the entire thing or just the caption? Just the title. Uh, are we are we happy with just the title on this one? Let's just read the title. Administrative resolution authorizing the use of the general fund reserve if required for the payment of debt service for the county's general obligation bonds MWFA project. All right. And we have Miss Sparks with us from our finance office to explain why we thought we accomplished this last time, but we've got to go go through this again. It's not sufficient to wear a belt. We need suspenders, too.

Yes, exactly. That's the best analogy for this. Uh, good evening, council. Martha Sparks, finance director for Toba County. Um, Toba County is working with the Maryland Department of the Environment to secure a funding package that is a combination of grants, bonds, and loan forgiveness. This funding assists with the financing of improvements to Toba County Sanitary District's region 2 sewer system extension resolution 235. Um, as you know, the council has authorized the issuance of 7,18,942 in general obligation bonds in bill number 1619 and an administrative resolution that was passed on October 28th, 2025. Um the debt service for these bonds will be paid from the revenues from the Toba County Sanitary District. The county is issuing general obligation bonds that are backed by the full faith credit and taxing authority of Tobi County. General obligation because general obligation bonds provide the strongest assurance that that debt will be repaid. However, upon further review by MDE staff, they've requested additional assurance through another administrative resolution. This resolution is requesting that the county council preapprove the use of reserves in the county's general fund. Tobi County's reserve policy, requires that the county manager certify availability of the funds and requests that the county council approve the use of the funds. This resolution would require no further approval by the county council for the use of reserves for payment of the debt service on these bonds if needed. We do not anticipate needing that, but MDE wants extra extra extra assurances.

Are there uh are there questions for Miss Sparks on the administrative resolution? No. So this will this will take care this is this is specifically for all the the uh sewer hookups in the resolution 250 area down 235 235 area. Yes. That's correct. Yes. And as soon as we get this resolution uh passed by council, we'll be able to get that bond closing scheduled. Okay. Um uh we need to introduce um once it's introduced it can be uh adopted by

Yes. But but but do do an introduction by show of hands first. All right. Uh who is introducing this resolution? It is introduced by council. Uh and uh since this is uh available uh eligible for an immediate vote, are there any uh any discussion on this before we proceed with a vote? Hearing none, uh would you please call the role? Mr. Leer, I Mr. Stepp I, Miss Milky, I Miss Hay, I thank you very much.

Thank you. And and and good luck as we proceed to closing on these on these bonds. Hopefully we can get these connections made. All right. Uh we have just a couple of minutes before we're we are allowed to open up our public hearings scheduled for 5:30 uh to uh make good use of time. Can we proceed with the first item under county manager report? Uh Mr. County Manager.

Sure. Thank you, council. Under county manager report this evening, boards and committee appointments. I have three for you this evening. The first one is uh regarding the economic development commission. We're requesting the appointment of Dr. Michael Meyer as a town of St. Michael's representative to that board or commission. Motion to approve. Second. Motion and second. Uh would the secretary call the role? Mr. Leer. I. Mr. Steppp. I. Miss Milky. I. Miss Hay. I. And that one is approved. Mr. Stamp.

The next would be the Midshore Behavioral Health Board of Directors. for requesting the appointment of Annie, I'm sorry, Amy Hoffman, director of the University of Maryland Medical System, Shore Regional Health Behavioral Health Unit, and the reappoint of Chenz Jenkins from Peace of Mind me Mental Health Services. Motion to approve the appointment. Second. And that is for both appointments. Yes. Appointment and reappoint. Uh would the secretary please call the role? Mr. Leer, I. Mr. Stepp. Miss Milky I Oh, I'm sorry. Miss Mil was distracted. What? Your vote. Your vote.

Your vote on the appointment. Sorry, Miss Hayes. I And finally, the planning commission. We are requesting uh your consideration for the reappoint of Mr. Chip council to the planning commission. Motion to approve the appointment of Chip. Second. We have a motion and second. Uh Would the secretary please call the role? Mr. Leer. I. Mr. Steppp. I. Miss. Milky. I. Miss. Hey. I.

All right. And we are uh at 5:30. So we will continue on with uh uh flip back to the public hearings. Uh first up is uh bill number 1621. Uh would the secretary please read the title into the record? Bill number 1621, a bill to amend chapter 190, zoning, subdivision, and land development, sections 190-25.2, table of land uses, and 190-29, commercial uses regarding funeral homes and crematoria.

All right. Uh, this was introduced. Uh, now open for I will open the public hearing on this. Is there anybody who wishes to come forward? uh and speak on bill 1621 uh on this uh amendment to the zoning. We have Mr. Shoalter here. Um and uh if you are speaking as an for yourself as an individual, you'll have three minutes. If you're speaking for an organization and will be the only one speaking for that organization, you can have five minutes.

Thank you very much for your time this evening. Ryan Sha Walter, 100 Northwestern East of Maryland. Appearing on behalf of the applicant and I have Mr. Kirk Health and with me. Um the staff report that you have summarizes the history of this text amendment. As you know, there were some initial uh comments that were provided to the planning commission. The uh text amendment was refined to address the uh the few minor uh suggestions that came out of discussions both with this council and the planning commission. and it's before you now with the unanimous favorable recommendation from the planning commission. So if there are any questions from the council, we'd be happy to answer those questions. Otherwise, we appreciate your support. Are there any questions?

Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Anybody else who wishes to speak on bill 1621? Seeing none, I will close the public hearing on this bill, but leave the record open for written comments until uh noon on Friday, December 5th. This will be eligible for a vote on December 9th. Uh next up, we have bill number 1622. Uh would the secretary read the title into the record, please? Bill number 1622, a bill to amend chapter 190, zoning, subdivision, and land development of the Toba County Code for the purposes of providing for classes of short-term rental licenses and amending certain provisions pertaining to short-term rental licenses, including one, the composition and term of the short-term rental review board. Two, contents of new applications. Three, hearings, decisions, and appeals. four, renewal, five, grounds for denial, and six, additional restrictions.

Okay. Uh I seem to have skipped over this step, but Mr. Thomas, do you have any anything uh that you'd like to give for background on this one?

Um I can briefly um as I stated at the uh the introduction. Um so this bill simply reflects the proposal that was initially brought forward by uh Vice President Leer and Council Member Milky. Um with uh three changes, all of which uh were recommended uh by the planning commission. Uh the different the differences from what was initially presented are that the uh proposed increase in minimum night stay for certain zoning districts from 3 days to seven days was removed. Uh the proposed requirement for a landline telephone was removed and the proposed requirement for keeping a log of rentals was removed. Okay. Any questions from council for for bill 1622?

I just I just wanted you to clarify that um when the bill was first presented to the planning commission and it came back with suggestions most of those changes or many of the changes were made as a result. Those were three changes that those were three requirements in the original version that you all voted to to send to the planning commission that had been removed based on the planning commission's recommendations, but it otherwise contains the language that was originally uh okay and what you forwarded. Just wanted that to be clear for the record. Thank you.

Okay, there are no further questions. We can open the hearing on bill 1622. Uh if you were coming forward to speak, I'll ask you to speak in the microphones at this table here. Uh if you are speaking as an individual, uh you will have three minutes. If speaking for an organization and you are the only one speaking for that organization, uh you may have five. Um signup sheet. Anybody? Signup sheet. Do we have a signup sheet for this one? Thank you for your patience and we'll open this in just a moment. I'm sorry.

Okay, nobody signed up. Thank you. And we'll take uh folks in the order that you've signed up. And if you haven't signed up in advance, you'll have an opportunity after those who have signed up have spoken. Uh first up is Bill Morrison. Thank you, council. Uh, Bill Morrison, 303 Manor Street, St. Michael's, Maryland. Uh, literally across the street from the town of St. Michael's. I have a short-term rental unit in my primary residence. It's an auxiliary unit. Uh, houses two people at all at at maximum. Um, I've been licensed. I've been renewed. And I've been renewed a second time. And I just want to comment on the specific section 63.3 uh paragraph 5 uh sub paragraph I I I which uh requires me to notify all of my neighbors within a th00and ft. I have 213 neighbors within a th00and feet. So, three times now in the last four years, I've had to provide notices and solicit signatures uh from 213 neighbors times three. Uh I spent over $1,000 in uh postage for this. I've gone doortodoor. I've got a lot of email addresses now uh so that I can comply with this rule. I would ask you to consider dropping the requirement to th000 feet

or a maximum of 50 neighbors when you're going through the renewal process. That would alleviate a lot of u ownorous effort. Thank you. Thank you. Uh next is Jennifer Brown. Is Miss Brown here? I am. Okay. Uh we will move on to Fenner.

Hello everybody. Um I'm speaking on behalf of an organization. So five minutes would be great. Good evening members of the council. My name is Emma Brown and I'm speaking on behalf of Fenora, the vacation rental company, and the many homeowners and guests we serve across Taba County. I want to begin by underscoring something critically important. The Taba County Planning Commission did not view most of the proposed changes in this bill as necessary or appropriate. They conducted months of review, gathered public input, and made thoughtful recommendations. Yet, the current proposal stands in direct opposition to those recommendations and does not incorporate the planning commission's evaluation or guidance. That alone should give us all pause. Beyond the procedural concern, the substance substance of this bill presents an even larger issue. There is no quantitative or factual evidence that short-term rentals cause measurable harm to it county neighborhoods. To date, no study, no report, no data driven assessment has shown that STRs increase crime, reduce housing availability, or disrupt communities. The arguments driving this proposal appear to rely almost entirely on personal opinion and anecdotal complaint and not objective analysis. Policy that reflects thousands of homeowners should never be built on speculation. It's also important to acknowledge reality. Short-term rentals are already heavily and thoroughly regulated in Taba County. Obtaining an short-term rental license requires inspections, testing, documentation, and compliance with strict safety and zoning requirements. These processes can take up to multiple months. At Fenor, we have personally submitted hundreds of new and renewal applications. We know the system inside and out, and we can confidently say that this robust, comprehensive, and effect and effective system ensures properties meet every county requirement. Many homeowners spend thousands of dollars each year just to remain compliant. from mandatory mailings to additional administrative costs. We fully support reasonable, balanced regulations that promote safety and accountability, but

the current process is already vigorous and financially burdensome. This proposed bill does not solve a problem. Instead, it creates new ones. By imposing additional restrictions without evidence, the county risks harming a thriving local industry that supports cleaners, contractors, small businesses, restaurants, and shops. Short-term rentals bring tourism, support local jobs, and increase spending throughout our community. Weakening this economic engine based on unsported claims would be a costly mistake. Finally, I want to address something difficult but necessary to say. A very small group of individuals have managed to drive much of a narrative behind this bill. Their concerns, while valid to discuss, do not represent the broader community, nor are they backed by data. It is concerning to see such limited perspectives carry disproportionate influence over countywide policy. In closing, I urge council to reject this proposed legislation. Short-term rentals are already rigorously regulated, beneficial to the local economy, and operating without any evidence of causing harm. Moving forward with a bill that contradicts the planning commission's findings, lacks factual support, would place unnecessary burdens on responsible homeowners and small businesses. We ask instead for continued balanced datadriven oversight, not reactionary regulation. Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank Thank you. The next is Emma Tieran. Emma Tieran, if I'm reading that correctly, Emma Tier. If if not, we can move on to uh Leslie Steen.

Hi. Um, my name is Lesie Steen and I live at 21748 Camper Circle in Tilman. I urge you to vote for this bill. But the changes that I would like to make, the bill, after six years of experience, accomplishes a number of things that need to be done. Um, I'd like to set the framework a bit. What are the complaints against this bill? They're not very specific. Uh, the bill does not burden owners, agents, nor staff. It doesn't put STRs out of business, as some people have complained. It grandfathers them and improves the administration of the licensing. The parts that the industry has complained to be most ownorous were removed. The minimum 7-day stay requirement, the occupancy log, the required landline, all removed. What are the actual additions to the law? The bill requires the owner to provide readily available written information in the application to make it easier and more transparent for staff, the board, and the public. Things like how many occupants can be in in the property. The bill clarifies how the STR board operates and makes decisions. For example, allowing video conferencing, notice of application information, contact information, application requirements that must be met for the license to be approved. Conditions can be imposed. Investor licensing rules are aligned with those of homeowners. By limiting the density of STRs, this bill takes steps to address the important impacts that STRs have on the affordability of our workforce housing.

Concentrations of STRs cause prices and rents to go up, freezing out the local long-term income taxpaying population. The social fabric of our neighborhoods and communities are impacted. The ins and outs can overwhelm neighborhoods, change the very character of them, and change how we interact and support each other. Our volunteers can disappear. We had good evidence of volunteers this evening. Things we still need in the bill. Town residential zone needs to have the same limitations as villages. No more than one STR per every 500 ft. STR zone. Thihar zones are very similar in characteristics as villages, providing affordable housing for the workforce and close communities with small lot sizes, narrow yard setbacks. We can't afford to lose this valuable asset. Board and staff can accomplish more without legislation if they want to. A better means to com collect complaints and improve enforcement. um public is instructed to to go to the owners and the agents with their complaints, not the county. We have no records.

We do we do have we do have your written comments and and and they are part of the record. So, I'll just ask you to wrap up if we can. Thank you. Thank you.

Uh next up is Kevin Hartman. If I could bring one other up with me here speaking in the same matter. So Kevin and Angeline Hartman were Fairy Brbridge House in Eastern Maryland. Look at my notes real quick. Sorry. So we we have a a short-term uh rental and we've had it for about two and a half years. Um just one. We managed it ourselves. Uh we've we've uh tracked the the progress of this bill since April. So in April the bill was um was the draft was was submitted to the planning commission and there was a lot of um letters submitted pertaining to it and we attended the hearing uh in which a number of people some of the same people I'm sure will be here tonight who spoke about about the matter and then in June on June 10th they had a a meeting with you guys. I also attended that meeting. What I could see was that the PR planning commission basically disagreed with just about everything in the bill. Not just the things that were removed, but everything in the bill. They they commented in in the negative that would be uh that would not only would be more burdensome, but they thought that the existing um already rigorous uh uh procedures should be even uh softened a little bit because they are so rigorous. Um, I I think I just want to in my time here just just tell you I I'll have our hostess here tell you just a little bit about some of the people that that have stayed at Fair's House.

You our guests love Talbet County and we work hard to give them a good positive experience of the area. They've come to Taba County to experience a number of things, not only the county, but just to celebrate birthdays, to experience water foul, uh to do just experience the unique nature of this county, and it's our honor to be able to host them and so we want to continue that positive experience. Um

so, so in the minute we have left, I I would just reinforce two things. One, the planning commission almost unanimously disagreed with this bill. Two, and more recently in this room se in September, the the department the the Tula County Department of Economic Tourism and and Economic Development and Tourism stated that visitors generated $320 million in spending, supported, 1960 jobs, and 62 million in in taxes. What I would submit is if if this bill passes, it really puts in jeopardy about 200 jobs. If you would just just round down and say one job per per unit, you're talking about knocking out 10% of the tourism jobs in the county. That's really what you risk by passing this bill.

Anything else? And and just close with that. I think the first two resolutions you heard tonight, I think that would that will affect those two things, hunger and homelessness. I think we need the jobs. Tourism provides the jobs. That that's what's at risk. Thanks.

Thank you very much. Next is Dennis Forny. Evening folks, thanks for the opportunity to make a few comments. I'll keep them brief. I agree that uh I I've reviewed the legislation proposed and and the existing regulations and which are already extensive and I don't see any really need to add further to the bureaucracy uh which I think that this proposed legislation would do. A little bit of a different uh take on this. Uh we live out in Bosman. Uh throughout that area, people are scattered around. There's a lot of second homes out there and a lot of them are dark a lot of times of the year. Uh we're down a lane and there's not that much traffic along there. The thing about some of the Airbnbs and we have one across the creek and we've had no problems with it. Uh we've had another one right up the lane from us. We've had no problems with it. The one thing that I will say is it's nice for us to look out occasionally and see lights where most of the time we see darkness. And with the Airbnbs, a lot of these properties that would never be rented in for a longer term, they do bring in some traffic that puts a little a few sets extra sets of eyes and ears around the neighborhood. And we all know it's uh it's always good to have people looking out for things to notice things. Maybe a house caught on fire. Maybe a house is plumbing uh blew up and flooding the place. We've had a lot of instances of that. So, there is that other thing. And I think that by limiting densities and things like that, you also cut out the public through the public hearing process, what goes on on Camper Circle and Tilman might be entirely different than what happens uh out in the Bosman area, and they all may be legitimate concerns. That's why we have a fairly extensive and notification process to bring the public into the decision-making process. So, let the

public hearing process take care of all that instead of trying to add more and more and more bureaucratic language to uh determine every little single thing that could happen. So, let the public hearing process do its job. Let's shut the let's cut down on the on the extra bureaucracy that this would that this would bring. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Jody Weinstein. Jody Weinstein. Hello, my name is Jodie and I live at 24687 Yak Club Road in St. Michael.

Could you speak a little louder, please?

Sure. I decided to make St. Michael's my permanent home in 2016. And the theme of my discussion tonight is don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. I took the liberty last June when this bill began of walking up and down Main Street, Tilman Island, and St. Michaels and I surveyed 37 shops and restaurants and I asked them point blank, will decrease in tourism, which will this will cause this bill will cause decrease in short-term rentals will have a negative effect on your business. 37 signed this saying yes. Here's my phone number. Here's my email. I made five packets and made sure they were all distributed to your offices. So, I'm hoping some of you took the liberty of calling some of them to actually talk to them about how this bill will affect their business and their livelihoods. I spoke to Lori who is the director of the new beautiful St. Michael's Community Center and they have a new program called work for development for workforce development and that program is they interviewed all the shops and restaurants. What kind of help do you need? They set up a commercial s um a beautiful commercial kitchen. They're bringing in professionals. The hope is to train people who have never had a job before, maybe the youth, to uh develop skills so these people can go into our community and perhaps have a job for the first time. That also is a direct impact to the previous conversation um with um homelessness. I think so. Um tourism supports nearly 2,000 local jobs in Tala County. Uh Talbot County collects $1.93 million in lodging taxes. Short-term rentals participate in the collection of that money. That's money that goes

towards our police, schools, local services. Cut tourism, cut jobs, cut opportunity. Um and my last um thought is directed at Lynn Milky, the author of this bill. My question to you is once we decrease just just to be just to be clear in public remarks, you're addressing the full council here.

Okay. My question is if money is decreased in our public funds due to the decrease in tourism, which will surely happen if this bill goes forward, are you going to increase our property taxes to make up the difference? That's my question. because money will have to come from somewhere or you have to cut services both of which I don't think are ideal. Thank you. Thank you. Uh next is Eric. Eric Weinstein. Thank you for the opportunity to to address this u this legislation. I want to say that I think it's u really misguided um very misguided and shortsighted and I think that it's underestimated the impact that it's going to have on the local economy. Um my wife Jod just spoke to that and I know she spoke personally with with a good number of of uh businesses in St. vehicles um on on Main Street and uh almost almost all of them said that this will that this would be very detrimental to their to their livelihoods. Um I I want to also say that um I was here at the last meeting and and it was clear that the planning commission was was by and large opposed to most of the content of of the bill and they removed the three things that you know some of them I think got laughtered in this in this room. the idea of the landline being being required for a quick response um was one was one example. Um but um I I want to also I know the time's limited here. Um I've had 20 years experience with short-term vacation rental and and never had a complaint, not a single one. And I know from the data that's been

that's been been distributed um amongst some some other homeowners uh short-term vacation rental owners um there have been minimal complaints. I think it's under 10 in a number of years and I believe there's a hotline set up to address that and I guess I don't understand what motivates this legislation. It's going to have a negative impact on the economy and it kind of imposes you know a one-size solution across all of Taba County. Um and I think situations are unique and if there if there are individual complaints or problems there's a commission a process for for dealing with that. So I I just want to um echo what what somebody else uh said uh that there's plenty of regulation already. Um it doesn't need to be more more burdensome cumbersome.

Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Next is James Flood.

Oh my. Good afternoon and thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to speak before this group. My name is James Flood. I was born here 71 years ago. Uh my grandfather, Dr. uh Storch from New Jersey, came down here in the 1920s, fell in love with the area. It was peaceful. It was quiet. It was tranquil. So much so that he bought the home on 7969 Tilman Island Road. That's on Harris Creek. That home has remained in our family for almost a hundred years. I've been coming down here all my life. 20 years ago, I decided I'd like to have my own place here. And so I I looked in in areas where the the zoning was residential because I wanted a quiet place. And I found a place also on Waterhole Cove and it was great. And then a short-term rental came in next door. A hotel, a small hotel really. They have customers coming in and out all the time. They allow 12 people in a house under 2,000 square feet. That's pretty crowded. So they show up every Saturday afternoon now on in the in season. We wait for the caravan to come down that that that driveway and these people disorgge and then they are on vacation. They aren't used to having a pool. They aren't used to having a dock and they they are there to have a good time and they do have a good time. I'm the one who pays for it because it's loud and there's, you know, just things going on. I got I've had drones over my

pool. I've had people with paintball guns on my on my property, all sorts of toys. I've had people on my dock. If I go talk to them, they'll sometimes quit, but they really don't. They're not going to see me again. They don't care. I can go to the owner, which I have done, which the STR tells you that's what you should do. And he's not a bad guy, but sometimes they do something, sometimes they don't. I don't go to the county, though, because I do have to maintain some relationship with this owner next door. We share a bond with the property. I pay $12,695 a year in property taxes. All I want is quiet enjoyment of my property. I'm not asking for anything else. Just quiet enjoyment. Why? I'm in a area zoned residential. Why am I having to fight for that? I hope you vote for this bill. And and really we need to move further ahead with other support for the homeowners who are paying the taxes. what you know that people are throwing out numbers. Look at the number of uh how many dollars homeowners are paying in property taxes versus the money coming in from the uh uh short-term rentals. But that's that to me is just a matter of fairness. I did I thought I did everything I was supposed to and still I'm I'm

Mr. Flood I you are wrapping it up there. Thank you.

Thank you. Next is Tom Mitchell. Thank you all for your service. Um, my name is Tom Mitchell and um, I've been a resident of Toba County for 25 years. I want to want you to know that I support tourism. I'm actually in the hospitality business and I love Toby County. It's the most beautiful place in the world as far as I'm concerned. I do believe though that the um the short-term rental situation is slightly out of balance and needs some finetuning and some either additional restrictions or additional enforcement. And the number one area I believe needs to be tightened up is the uh qualifications to serve on the short-term rental review board. As my understanding is, you have to be a full-time resident with a principal residence in Talbert County. And I agree with that. You have to have skin of the game. You have to understand the neighborhood and the environment. But there's also it should also be a requirement that you cannot be a holder of a short-term rental license or of a owner of a short-term rental property or properties whether it be directly or through an LLC. So I believe that's got to be tightened up and I I believe there are conflicts right now um on on the short-term rental review board because of those two qualifications. the seven-day minimum. Uh I can understand that. But uh there's another perspective there and that is if you had a motel or a hotel and you invested millions of dollars and you're paying

taxes and employing people, you're going to lose a lot of weekend business because of the seven the seven-day minimum was beneficial to them and a lot of other benefits too. But by eliminating that, you're going to hurt the motel and hotel industry. And I suggest you talk to some of those investors to see what they think about it. And then the third has to do with the recordkeeping. And um I think it's very important that they keep detailed records just for transparency's sake. Um, if there is an issue with a with a problem with a neighbor, as the last gentleman spoke, um, it seems like it's up to the neighbors to enforce the law and and and and it's quite difficult uh because of the transparency, lack of transparency. we we really need to be able to show up at the renewal of the license and question, you know, certain uses and and other details of the use of the property during previous year. So, those those are the three points and um I hope that they will get some serious consideration. Thank you all very much.

Thank you. Thank you. Uh next one simply reads Tidewater Vacations.

Tidewater vacations. Hi, good evening. I am a business so All right. Good evening. My name is Michelle Hoy. I am the owner of Taiws, a familyrun agency that personally manages a curated collection of licensed high-end waterfront homes right here in Tava County. Um, we are not some faceless corporation. We are neighbors deeply invested in the well-being of this community. Tonight, I stand before you not just for Taiwitter Vacations, but for the entire responsible short-term rental community in Taba County, more than 160 licensed properties that together generate over 2 million a year in lodging and accommodation taxes for the county while sustaining nearly 2,000 local tourism related jobs. I respectfully ask that you vote no on this bill even in its revised form for three straightforward straightforward reasons. Sorry. First, there is simply no evidence of a widespread problem. In the last six years, the county has resol recorded fewer than 10 complaints across the entire license program. That's an average of fewer than two per year. An exceptional track record of compliance, not a crisis demanding drastic new regulations. Second, this bill crushes local families and small businesses under an avalanche of new red tape without improving housing, without improving neighborhoods, and without improving anything at all. The proposed new rules would drive up cost and push responsible owners into either unregulated platforms or out of the market and the community completely. Licensed short-term rentals make up less than 2% of Taba County's total housing stock. Even if half of them vanish tomorrow, fewer than 80 homes would enter the long-term market. A mere drop

in the bucket compared to the county's real housing crisis. Meanwhile, the tourism revenue from these properties keeps housekeepers, landscapers, restaurants, and retail shops thriving, enjoying local residents year round employing. And third, Tavetic County already has one of the strongest and most effective short-term rental programs in the state. Every property is licensed, inspected, actively monitored, and remits 10% of every booking in tax revenue. We maintain 24-hour hotlines, enforce strict quiet hours, and carry substantial liability insurance. If any property becomes a genuine problem, revoke its license. We fully stand behind that. But please don't punish the 99% of owners and managers who consistently follow the rules. Council member, the data couldn't be clearer. near zero complaints, near perfect compliance, and millions in tax revenue that directly benefits our community. If real issues emerge in the future, the responsible owners and operators in this room tonight stand ready to work with you on a targeted data-driven solutions. This bill is misguided is a misguided solution in search of a problem. It's a hammer looking for a nail, and the only thing it will hit is the heart of our community. You have the power and the evidence to protect our neighborhoods and the tourism economy that makes Tava County thrive. Please vote no on this bill. Thank you for your time and your dedicated service.

Thank you. Next is Minda Goldberg. She's here. You're next. You're Steen Goldberg. Okay.

Good evening, members of the council. My name is Steve Goldberg. Thank you for this opportunity. Let me see if I can open my notes real quick. Um, first and I echo what was just said. This was said in a lot of the prior hearings that this bill feels like a solution in search of a problem. This is a well- reggulated business in Ta County and has been for some time. Um, the we've been doing it for 15 years without incident. Uh, and the um we're I'm particularly cons I'm opposed to the whole bill, but I'm particularly concerned about the restrictions on non-residents. We don't live here full-time. live in Baltimore, but we are here a lot. We spend a lot of money here. We spend more money, my wife was telling me, locally, than we do back in Baltimore, the restaurants and all those other things. I I don't like the sense that somehow non-residents are carpet baggers. You could have someone who has their principal residence in Tula County, lives here eight months a year, goes away from May to September and rents their house every week and gets treated differently than I do because they're a resident and they pay fewer property taxes. I don't claim a homestead exemption here. I pay more property taxes than they pay. The So I think that favoring residents is unfair because there's this huge loophole that enables them to do that. In addition, I believe this is the case under the law and that is that if you have someone in a residential zone who rents their own property, that's their primary residence. I don't think any of the limitations on distance apply to them. So you could have if it's a primary residence, you could have five primary residences in a row running to each other. I don't think that's fair. I also don't think the it's fair that in a less dense zone you can only have licenses a thousand feet apart. The the the you in a 500 foot thing you can have res STRs much closer to each other than a th00and foot zone. I don't know why in the less dense

zones we don't have the same 500 foot regulation and a lot of it's sort of random depends on the shape of your street in my we measure all these distances from property lines according to the statute they should really be measured from dwellings in these less than zones when you measure from the property lines I'm on a circle this is this is exact figure the nearest STR to me is 400 feet property line to property line and about 1100 ft dwelling to dwelling I did this on the county's mapping chart. So, I use the county's own tool. Another house a little further down. Uh it's each time it's doubled about 900 feet property line to property line, 1850 ft dwellings dwelling. Now, I'm happy to give those notices, but I don't think that the limit should be in terms of notices, that's fine, but in terms of the proximity of STRs, they should be allowed to be closer together in the less dense zone. Then the other thing that no one's really addressed, but I think it's really important, and I did submit comments on this, is the transfer restrictions. I don't see any reason why my family shouldn't be entitled to inherit my property and continue the STR business that I've had all these years and continue to use my property. I think that's really important. I we've, you know, we want to keep this as a family retreat and being able to rent it is an important part of that ability.

Thank you very much. Next is Sarah Jones.

Good evening. Um, my husband and I have operated a short-term rental for about 10 years, and we're here to voice our opposition to this bill. In 2015, we renovated a small waterfront home built in 1890. And at the time we acquired it, this tear down of a house had been deteriorating for decades and had been a long-term rental to a series of tenants who were less than ideal neighbors. But we felt it had charm and potential. So, we hired local electricians and contractors and spent tens of thousands more on building supplies, landscaping, and home decor, and continue to spend to preserve this historic captain's cottage, which is now up to code, cute as a button, and very much in character with the small village of Nevette. Our neighbors were thrilled with our renovation and the transformation of this former eyesore. We were able to make this investment with the expectation of renting this property as a short-term rental. We are very selective in our guest. We have house rules that are designed to ensure our neighbors are not disturbed. Um the house rules are clearly communicated and in 10 years we've had no complaints. We as owners have paid over $45,000 to to county and property and short-term accommodation taxes. Um during our initial application and then each year or each time we subsequently renew, we spend well in excess of $1,000 to mail the certified notices and meet required testing requirements. So, we spend tens of thousands, I'm sorry, we spend thousands each year to maintain this property to a high level of aesthetic beauty. And I would suspect that most vacation rentals are among the best maintained properties on their blocks and bring up the property values of um the other properties in their neighborhood. Um you've heard about what the our guests do to the local economy. Um you've heard maybe that there's a challenge to the business of local hotels. However, we're filling a niche in the hospitality realm by allowing guests to visit with their pets. Those um tourists would not be visiting Talbet

County without being able to travel with their pets and spending their money here. Most people don't have seven days to take a vacation or if they have a long-term vacation, they don't want to come somewhere local. They want to go to the Caribbean or somewhere exciting like that. So, I am very pleased that you've um lowered that uh requirement to three days. Um there are concerns about short-term rentals destroying um our neighborhoods or sense of community. In Navat, as in Bosman, almost a third of our homes are weekend homes with non-permanent residents. Tilman, Oxford, St. Michaels, all have high numbers of part-time residents. This has a much bigger impact on the fabric of our towns than short-term rentals, and there's no regulating around that. As much as we might yearn to, we cannot turn back the clock to Mayberry type towns where everyone has close relationships with their neighbors. life in 2025 is more isolated for reasons that have nothing to do with short-term rentals and overregulating short-term rentals to reduce their number will not make a meaningful improvement in the character of Talbet County communities. The two aspects of the bill u proposed bill we find most troubling are the rewriting of the um section about short-term board members. It provides uh limitations to important voices at the table, namely short-term rental owners. And finally, um, section 63G, requiring a public year hearing is a huge waste of time. Everything is addressed in the application process. There's no new information to be gained by having a public hearing and that would require us all to basically get attorneys because we're not going to show up at a hearing where we can possibly lose our livelihood without an attorney. So, thank you very much.

Thank you. Next is Charles Jones. Charles Jones. Okay. Uh and uh next is Andy Warner.

He was sitting outside. If we don't have Andy Warner here, I can now open the floor for those who did not sign up in advance over here. I did sign up, but I'm going to do a little clean up. My husband, Stephen Goldberg, spoke. Um, I want to just Would you introduce yourself for the record?

My name is Minda Goldberg. I live on Ingleton Circle and um although I'm not a county resident, I'm a Maryland resident and I am on the board of my homeowners association. I am an active participant in Talabet County. Um that said, I want to just focus on the restrictions um that apply for um our neighborhood which is 1,000 ft. My husband addressed that 1,000 ft is from property to property line is not really the standard. The house that I I'll point out clearly why I'm here. There is another house four or five doors down that got a license three years ago. We're are both grandfathered. Their house is within the thousand ft only because of property lines. We can't see their house. They can't see our house. It is more than a th000 ft apart. But what's crucial to us is that we've been here for 15 years. We plan on owning this and then we plan on leaving it to our children. Our children live out of state. They will need the income that that we have um and the business that we have created so that they can continue to own it. The problem is the way this legislation is now written. I am grandfathered. I can keep my license as long as I renew and I'm in good standing. But my son who is here more fre or or very frequently helps me manage it. He wasn't on the application from 15 years ago. When he inherits it, he has to start from scratch. And as this is written, he would not be allowed to maintain the license that we've had for 15 years because there's another neighbor which they're entitled to it, but we would lose it as a result. He would then have to sell the house and

this family home would would no longer be. My husband is from the Eastern Shore. We have roots here and this would destroy that root. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else on bill 1622? Anybody else wish to speak at this point in the back

representing Eastern Shore Vacation Rentals. Your name?

And you'll introduce yourself for the record, please. My name is Brian Troutman and I represent Eastern Shore Vacation Rentals, a company that has managed short-term rentals in Toba County for 23 years. We currently oversee one of the largest groups of licensed STR properties in the county. And because of that, I see firsthand how these regulations affect homeowners, neighborhoods, and and our local economy. Tonight, I'm asking I'm asking you to vote no to Bill 1622. Not because I oppose regulation, but because th this bill is unnecessarily, unnecessary, unsupported, and a misuse of the county's time and resources. Bill 1622 is a solution in search of a problem. In the last 10 years of operating here, across hundreds of properties, the county has received fewer than 10 documented complaints. 10 in a decade. There's no crisis, no pattern of neighborhood disruption, no evidence that short-term rentals are burdening county systems. Our existing framework, the STR review board, inspections and local enforcement tools is already working exactly as intended. Creating new bureaucra bureaucracy without evidence of a problem is not a responsible responsible governance. This bill is nearly identical to the one that was that was rejected last time by basically everybody. When this legislation was introduced months ago, it went through a full review. The planning commission rejected it. County staff and volunteers spent hours offering thoughtful, constructive changes. Yet, instead of in incorporating even one of those recommendations, this bill has been brought back almost word for word that disregards the expertise of the planning commission, the time invested by staff, and the collaborative process Toba County relies on for sound policy. This bill adds confusion, not clarity, and carries real financial consequences. Bill 62 layers on vague and conflicting standards, new fees and investigations, impractical measurement requirements,

and inconsistent compliance expectations, all without solving a single documented problem. More importantly, this bill jeopardizes a meaningful revenue stream for the county. STRs generate hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in lodging taxes alone, not to mention local spending that supports businesses and county services. If this legislation reduces STR activity, and it is my belief that it will, the revenue loss will fall directly on the local taxpayers, as it usually does, the STR revenue decreases. Residents ultimately make up the difference through higher taxes or reduced services. Why would we risk a stable revenue source when there is no evidence the current system is failing? The motivation for this bill is political and not practical. The legislation resurfaces repeatedly driven by new driven not by new incidents or community concerns, but by personal frustration with political and political positioning. There have been no new complaints, no new issues, and no new data. Just the same recycled narrative conveniently timed for another election cycle. Toba Toba County deserves policy based on facts and not personal agenda agendas. In closing, I want to acknowledge the timing. It's Thanksgiving week, a time where most of us are focused on coming together, finding gratitude, and maybe debating whe whether cra whether cranberry sauce really belongs on the table. Instead, we're here considering a bill that feels feels a bit like the unwanted holiday turkey that no one asked for. It's over stuffed. It's been reheated more than once. And no amount of dressing is gonna fix what's wrong with it. Even the family dog would probably turn its nose up to bill 1622. Toba County deserves better better than political leftovers, especially ones the planning commission already tried to send back to the kitchen. I respectively urge you to vote no on bill 1622 so that we can all get back to the things that actually matter this week, our families, our neighbors, and

our community, which we are truly thankful for. Thank you for the time. Thank you. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak to Bill 1622? My name is Bob Hos. I live in Bentley Hay in town of St. Michaels. I just wanted to make a couple comments about I've heard stories about all the money that the short-term rental um tax was generating. It's my understanding that most of the money most of the money for short-term rentals goes to the county that the uh towns the incorporated towns only are available to short-term rentals within a mile of the town limits. I live in Bentley Hay. We're within a mile of the town limits of St. Michaels. St. Michaels doesn't allow short-term rentals in their residential areas. So, there's very few short-term rentals in St. Michael's. Easton is the same way. There's very strict regulations on short-term rentals in Easton. And I don't know any short-term rentals that are within a mile limit of East to begin with. Most of them, 90% of the short-term rentals are located down St. Michael's Road. So the money that the incorporated towns get, it's my understanding that they're allowed to use that money for infrastructure, trash collection, you know, road work, that type of stuff. But all the money that's collected by the county goes right to tourism. That doesn't benefit any of the citizens other than bringing more tourists in. So their advertising is all through the country to bring more people in here. I don't believe that this bill will eliminate any short-term rentals. I believe we

were told there's 180 short-term rentals in in Tala County and that is pretty much holding tight. Um, everybody's grandfather Bill grandfathers everybody in. As long as they keep their license up, they have no problems. the uh the gentleman you know that just spoke in front of me back in 2019 there was a gentleman I think his name was Ken man who worked for that same company and we were fighting for the uh dense neighborhoods to have tighter restrictions on he said and it's in the records that communities like Bentley Hay Rio Vista villages should not have short-term rentals period because he said that's where all the complaints come from when the houses are clustered in that tight. That's where it happens. That's all I think. And it was mentioned too that there's only a small group that's doing all this. Well, there's much more than a small group. I mean, just everybody doesn't come out. I mean, I can tell you, you know, Bentley Hay, there's probably at least half of the people in Bentley Hay, 100 people that are concerned about short-term rentals. Your list is the same way. You can't have short-term rentals in Back Creek Landing. You can't have them in Martingham because it's covered by the restrictions. I think that the county needs to put tighter regulations on these tensor neighborhoods. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Anybody else wishing to speak on bill 1622? Yes, please. my friend.

Uh my name is Monica Audi and I'm here representing um the Rio Vista Community Association. So I think I get five minutes, right?

Okay. Um and uh our Rio Vista Community Association HOA board president Jack Davis is also with me in the audience. Uh we are a community of 223 homes. We are adjacent to Bentley Hay, also a large community, and we're in the town residential zone. Um we would like to see one change to this bill to add the town residential zone to the density limitations uh that apply and include them with the same density limitations that apply to the village zones. And the reason for this is simple. town residential zone. Um it's characterized by small lots, 25 foot front and back setbacks, 10- foot side setbacks, very similar to um the village zones. So homeowners, residents of the of the TR zone are just as affected by short-term rentals as our residents of the village zones. So it just seems in simple fairness that TR zone should also be added. Uh, I'd also like to just talk about the bill generally. So, I've read this bill several times and it does not take away existing STR permits. It does not stop the issuance of new STR permits and it's not going to wipe out every tourism job in the county. Um what I think it does is it provides a better balance between the rights of residents by providing more transparency to neighbors and helping to maintain uh residential neighborhoods. And in fact, when the planning commission looked at this bill and as other speakers have mentioned, um they there was the provisions that were objected to the most strongly by the vacation rental industry are the provisions that have already been taken out of this bill. So,

I think the council is looking to try to still promote tourism, but balance this with helping residents and maintaining neighborhoods. Um the other comment I would make is that um Taba County of course is a tourist destination and there are other tourist destinations on the Eastern Shore that are also looking at trying to support tourism but still protect their residents in their residential neighborhoods. Um Mr. Hos mentioned that St. Michaels and Easton have much stricter STR rules. And just this year, Queen Ants County, also a tourist destination, they didn't have an STR law. They've now enacted a new law with some very strict provisions in. For example, no outdoor music after 8:00 at night. Very strict limits on how many people can be in an STR. And Oxford, the town of Oxford, has had an STR ordinance for some time, but within the last couple months, they just updated it. Why? Because they wanted to strengthen it um and help achieve more compliance and they're taking the needs of their residents into account. So, I do support the efforts of the county to support tourism and everyone understands that tourism is important to the county, but support tourism, but still remember that you've got people living here full-time. You want to maintain the residential neighborhoods. The residential neighborhoods are one of the reasons and the whole ambiance of the county are one of the reasons tourists come here. So I appreciate your efforts and thank you for your time.

Thank you. Anybody else wish to speak on bill 1622? Please come forward.

How's it going? Thank you for having me. Andy Warner. I'll keep it brief. Um myself and my family owned three short-term rentals in Tula County. Um believe a woman earlier said we would, you know, she made the decision to fix up a dilapitated property with the expectation that she'd be able to generate some income off of it. Uh we've done the same and it would uh it would definitely hinder some of the return on that property. And um I oppose this this bill for all the reasons stated before me. Uh, in addition, I propose that we revise the current legislation to reduce the minimum nights from three down to two. Thank you.

Anyone else wish to speak on bill 1622? Yes, please.

Hi, my name is Ann Marie Flood. I live on Tilman Island Road. I think we have to keep in mind that the bottom line on all this for all the people that have spoken in favor of short-term rentals thus far is their pockets. It is a business. A couple that spoke a few minutes ago used the term family business. Um I live in a residential zoned area. My home is very important to me and I'm not sure why I have should have to share it with businesses. They're not in they're not doing this for fun. They're not doing this for the good of Talbet County. They're doing it for their bottom line.

It's not just just let's keep the comments down and address your comments to the council, please. Thank you. Um, it's my home and I have trouble enjoying it because of noise and disruption from neighboring properties that are doing this for income. Is that fair? Is that fair to me? Who's looking out for me? I'm asking for help. Thank you.

Right. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak on bill 1622? The public record uh will will remain open for uh written comment uh until noon on December 5th. Um the this bill will be eligible for a vote on at our next meeting on December 9th. Um thank you all and and thank you too for the the many of you who have submitted written comments already. Uh we we certainly received those and I I certainly uh certainly read all of all of those. Um so with that, we'll close the public hearing on bill 1622. Uh, and uh, if you're going to leave, I'll ask you to do it quietly because we're continuing on with business here uh, with the county manager report. Mr. Stamp.

Thank you, councel. Uh, the next item that I have on the county manager report is a request from the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy requesting a letter support for their grant application to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Excuse me, Mr. Stamp. Would you let's let's please allow us to keep this on take the conversations outside. Thank you very much, Mr. Stamp. Thank you, council. Uh we have a request from the Eastern Shand Conservancy for a letter of support for their grant application to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for the San Domingo Creek Park Environmental Enhancement Project. No county funds will be required for this letter of support.

Motion to approve the letter of support. Second. We have a motion and second. Uh would the secretary call the role, please? Mr. Leer, I. Mr. Ste, I. Miss Milky, I. Miss Hay, I.

Council staff is asking consideration for your approval request to apply and accept a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration, local government energy modernization funding for improvement of county facilities. We are requesting county approval to apply for and accept grant funds from the Maryland Energy Administration. As I just stated, um this is going to largely benefit um an existing capital improvement project that we have budgeted to fund for the Department of Corrections in the Talby County Courthouse. The county will apply for 1.825101. That's $1,825,11, which requires a 10% cost share totaling $182,510 cents. The fire finance office has confirmed there are sufficient funds available for that match in the FY26 budget.

Uh, Mr. Stamp, kudos to staff for identifying this opportunity. We know how though we have these infrastructure needs and we need to find a way of of of making these upgrades. So, uh, so thank you. Is there a motion? With that, I'll make a motion. Second. Uh, would the secretary call the role, please? Mr. Lusher, I. Mr. Ste, I. Miss Milky, I. Miss H. I.

Thank you, council. And I'm here uh I'm going to speak up on behalf of our uh parks and recreation department. They're requesting council approval to proceed with an with engineering services for the replacement of the de dehumidifier systems at the Toba County Community Center ice rink and curling rink. Uh we're seeking to piggyback on a contract uh with Wakamako County with Electrical Automation Services Incorporated. Uh the cost for the engineering work will be $45,100. There are sufficient funds in the FY26 uh for this project and again this would be to engineer uh the the dehumidifier system solution which would then go out to bid and come to council for that

motion to approve the request. Second. We have a motion and second. Would the secretary please call the role? Mr. Leser I. Mr. Steppp. I. Miss Milky. I. Miss. Hate. I. And council asked Ray Clark, your county engineer, to come forward. He has a request to enter contract for sale of purchase um of approximately 1,333 ft of real property located at 9002 Gold Neck Road East in Maryland. Ray.

Okay. Thank you. Uh council again. Um we work with the property owner, Mr. Firstpin. Uh just kind of give you some history about this. Um we ended up completing an appraisal on Mr. uh Freeland's property which is across the street kind of can accord caddy corner to uh Mr. Fersman. Uh Mr. Fursman and Mr. Freeman know each other. And so when um I was contacted by Mr. Freeland or yeah Freeland he advised me that Mark was basically you know you know interested in working with us we had dropped off a letter basically outlining an offer to him. Uh at that point I part my offer letter included the 70 I guess it was 72 cents per square foot for Mr. uh firstman as the offer at the same time as in talking with Mr. Firstman and you know in lie of basically doing an appraisal offered him $2,000 in addition to the $136.80 bringing it a total offer of $3,3680. So we were trying to do this as quickly as we could so that we did not get in a position where we had David A. Bramble who was working on GSC road having to demobilize and then ultimately remobilize. They would continue to work and we also work with Mr. Firstman and also getting a temporary construction easement so that we could do the work before we had all this settled. So ultimately I was in communications with Mr. Fman throughout the process. So the game, you know, again, that's why we were offering him uh $3,36.80 for the property on Villa Road. And again, council, this is for the Goldsboro Neck Road project that we have seen that we've not opened that road, but it also helps enhance the intersection of Villa Road into Goldsboro Neck Road and allows us to uh implement safety enhancements to that intersection by increasing visibility with a growing amount of traffic coming

out of Villa Road onto Goldsboro Road, which is a an area where the sheriff is going to have to do some speed monitoring now because uh it's been widened and re resurfaced And people are taking advantage of that a little bit. And raised. Thank you. Yes. Yes. You can definitely see how much it's been raised. So, thank you for that.

Yeah. So, and again, just so so the council was aware, too, I mean, the timing for us, we were working as quickly as we could to get um goals were net road wrapped up before the end of this year because we had $750,000 for the grant funding. We were also trying to get the Villa Road improvements done. And again, as Clay noted, we were also focused on the site distance on on Villa Road. So, we're actually ended up removing trees off of Mr. Fman's property. We worked with him very diligently and not removing trees that were that they wanted to keep. Everything that they wanted to keep was actually outside our disturbance area of disturbance. Uh, one of the things we had to do is work with Mr. Fman and, you know, he worked with us as well. Um, there's a buffer requirement for the SDA. We modified his uh the request with him because of the SDA. Um and so ultimately just provided an easement over that SDA versus basically a fee and simple uh acquisitions.

All right. Any any questions for Mr. Clark? Yeah, just one right. Um when was the appro appraisal done for the Freriedman property? Freeman property was done probably about 18 months ago. So it was with usually my understand the um the appraisals are last about three years. So it was done about three years ago. Okay. And um So, do we normally have an appraisal process for

Typically, we do what our typical process is going to basically be um once we know what our needs are on that property, we'll then do an appraisal. But since I had an appraisal on Mr. Freeman's uh Freeman's property, I utilize that to calculate what the the uh fees um the fee simple interest would be for that property at the 72 cents. And it ended up coming up I think it was 13006 uh 13680. You know at that point you know if we went and hired and have an appraisal firm come in it probably would have cost us about $2,2400 to have that appraisal appraisal done. So instead of you know working with the property owner rather than paying you know we agreed on it basically not not having the appraisal done he would get paid the the $2,000 on top of the $00 that was part of the 72 cents per square foot.

Okay. And who approved the waiver of the appraisal? I guess you made that decision. Um ultimately submitted that to uh the county uh county as well. Just noting this is and I also drafted the letter noting that that basically we were providing him the offer without you know not in lie of providing the appraisal basically we would give him the $2,000. Okay. You submitted that to council? Yes. Okay. Do you have a date? Uh I know that the letter that we gave to him was August 22nd. So it's probably in the July time frame, but I I'll verify. Okay. I got the memory.

Thank you. Any other questions on this one? It does it does seem it does seem excessive to uh uh incur an appraisal fee on a $3,000 $3,300 purchase. I agree that it may seem um excessive, but if we have a standard operating procedure in place, I think we should follow the procedure at every every each time. Uh, any other questions? If not, are we ready for a motion? I'll make a motion. Second. Motion and second. Would the secretary call the role, please? Mr. Lusher. I. Mr. Steppp. I. Miss Milky. I.

Miss Hayes. Nay. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you, council. Thank you, Ray. Um, I'll ask Mike uh Risher to come forward. Your airport manager. Um, he has a request for council consideration to award a bid. Thanks, Clay. Council, good evening. Happy Thanksgiving early. Michael Risher, your airport manager. Uh, we'll close on an easy one here. This is something we do every three years. We put our farmland out to rebid. Um, we did that successfully this year in bid number 2513. And the um the highest bidder was Mr. Edward Row, who has actually currently has the lease. So, Mr. Row um is the high bid for the next three years for 8,600 per crop season. So I recommend that we award the lease to Mr. Row.

Any questions on this one? If not, are we ready for a motion? So moved. Second. And that's a motion for approval. If if the secretary would call the role, please. Mr. Lusher, I. Mr. Steppp, I. Miss Milky, I. Miss Hick, I

thank you, Council. Thank you, M. And finally, council, I just announced the county offices will be closed Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th. And I'd like to take the opportunity to wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving. And uh as always, I thank the council for your support um each day. Thank you very much, Mr. Stamp. Uh we are now down to public comment uh not general comments that may not pertain to pending legislation. Is there anybody here who wishes to offer I we we use the public comment sheet it seems for all focused on bill 1622 but if there's any other uh public comment here you're welcome to come forward at this time. Seeing none we can move on to council comments.

Just want to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving. uh might as well stick in the same vein. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Uh safety to you and your families if you're traveling and uh just uh blessings to all. And I will I will stick with the theme and wish all a happy Thanksgiving. It's unanimous. The county council's next meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9th, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The council will be convening open session at 3:30 p.m. and then adjourning to close session as listed on the statement for closing that meeting. Therefore, is there a motion to adjurnn this meeting and reconvene as noted? So moved. I have a second. And would the secretary call the role? Mr. Leer. I. Mr. Ste. I. Miss Milky.

I. Miss Hay. I. We are returned. Thank you all.