BOCC 9/16/02

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0968dfc3.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC Meeting Notes 7/1/03 12/31/03"><U><B>BOCC Meeting Notes  7/1/03 - 12/31/03</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=130 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0978dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Welcome to the Web Site of Clare Whitbeck</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Web Site of Clare Whitbec"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 7/1/03"><U>BOCC 7/1/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 7/8/03"><U>BOCC 7/8/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 7/15/03"><U>BOCC 7/15/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 7/22/03"><U>BOCC 7/22/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 8/5/03"><U>BOCC 8/5/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id139.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 8/19/03"><U>BOCC 8/19/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id141.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 8/25/03"><U>BOCC 8/25/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 9/2/03"><U>BOCC 9/2/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 9/9/03"><U>BOCC 9/9/03</U></A>   |   <B>BOCC 9/16/02</B>   |   <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 9/23/03"><U>BOCC 9/23/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id158.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 9/30/03"><U>BOCC 9/30/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id159.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 10/7/03"><U>BOCC 10/7/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 10/21/03"><U>BOCC 10/21/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 10/28/03"><U>BOCC 10/28/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 11/18/03"><U>BOCC 11/18/03</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id175.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 12/2/03"><U>BOCC 12/2/03</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=350 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0978dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>BOCC 9/16/02</I></div> <div> After the invocation and pledge of allegiance, the agenda was amended to include the a 10:15 briefing on emergency preparedness.  The bills were approved for payment and the minutes were approved as amended.  </div> <div> Next came a proclamation of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.  Kathy O’Brien, Kerry Lynch, Judy Coombs, and Betsy Linhart Cooksey of Walden Sierra came to accept a proclamation of this fact.</div> <div> Next Carolyn Laray came to present a report for Tourism in ‘03,  on its Long Range Goals.  The mission is to increase the economic impact of tourism through residents and non residents.  They want to preserve our heritage.  They have targeted weekend markets, drive distance, heritage traveler, recreation and sports.  They are marketing group travel, African American, travel and other areas.  She showed examples of beautiful ads for ST. Mary’s County, some of which had reader response cards. $117,000 was spent in FY ’03.  They received a total of 15,448 requests for information.  The average cost per lead was $3.62.  They did electronic advertising.  For the last three months there were over 15,000 hits on the web site.  They have a new publication  - the quick guide.  They updated and reprinted the visitor’s guide with a new town and communities section by including Leonardtown and the Amish community.  Visitors have dropped by 5% because of the sniper incidents and the poor economy.  Hotel tax and admission and amusement taxes increased this year despite the drop in visitors.  They worked to promote local efforts to increase tourism.  They are working on heritage tourism because heritage tourists spend more and stay longer.  For FY 2004, they want to increase the number of visitors.  They want more partners for the co-op program, to increase local tourism, and have placed visitors’ guides in hotel rooms.  Best Western is the partner in this effort.  They will have a getaway packaging seminar to increase getaways packaging.  They want to increase group tours, and have booked a central Pa tour.  They have been able to used bulk rates to decrease costs.  They are updating and expanding the Map Brochure, the information and the new Maryland Civil War Tour, the Leonardtown walking tour, and a bed and breakfast brochure.  There are three water excursion tours (the 9/18 familiarity tour may be cancelled), and  there will be a riverside wine fest at Sotterly.  They are combining weekend events.  They will strengthen the tourism partnerships.  There will be a new “things to do” sign at the border of St. Mary’s County. </div> <div> They want to continue the web development and tracking.  They want to revamp the site, and now you can download the core brochures.  They are working with John Roth who has done “a wonderful job.”  They want new measurement categories to better track local performance/trends.  The heritage area plan for southern Maryland will be implemented.  They want to enhance the visitor’s center and create a North County Welcome Center and Mid County Center, as well as focus on investment areas with a constellation of tourism resources.  Our museums, said Laray, are the flagships of our tourism.  They are accredited.  Accreditation is hard to obtain and easy to lose.  They want to concentrate on the trail head, historic sites, Amish resources, the Parlette Farm in the North County.  Carolyn wanted the allocation of the Hotel Tax to capital projects such as new packages.  She concluded by saying we need to preserve our natural resources.  McK asked her to tell people about our 800 number.  People can leave a message at any time and get a call back.  McK said we need to talk with Calvert County about the visitor’s center sharing and eliminating the need for a mid County visitors’ center.  He hopes that she is working with the Oyster Festival people.  Laray said the conflict this year is with the Blessing of the Fleet.  McK wants to be sure we are reaching out so as not to compete.  McK said Mark is doing a terrific job with commercials, and asked if the commissioners had seen the ad for the skate park.  They nodded.  Raley said he thinks the idea of having visitor guides in hotel rooms is a good idea as is the idea of downloadable brochures.  He would like us to have a relationship  with tour bus operators in the mid Atlantic area.  Last year, said Laray, there were 11 bus tours.  We are just beginning, she continued and each bus is worth $10,000 to the County.  Raley said tourism is on the upswing. Raley noted that Point Lookout is a great attraction despite the fact that the road to it is a paved cow path.  Jarboe commented that Point Lookout often fills up by nine o’clock.  We should put together a list to other things to do and places to go.  We should probably have brochures in espa<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >Á</FONT>ol.  Comm Mattingly complemented Laray on her work.  He reiterated her point that the accreditation of the museums is important.  Laray talked about the Maryland lighthouse challenge.  Kim noted that visitation was 483 on Saturday and about 400 on Sunday.  Visitors came from Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.  People were delighted with our beautiful museum.  </div> <div> The nest item was <B>County Administrator Time.</B>  Mr. Forrest presented draft agendas for Sept 23 and 30.  On Sept 23, the BOCC meeting will move to the Daugherty Center for the State of the County presentation.  Judges Kaminetz and Judge Raley came to the table to talk about streamlining the procedures.  Judge Raley has proposed to save money by changing the way he runs his chambers.  They have installed a court reporter system in Judge Raley’s chambers.  Clarke Raley said he has outlined what is to be accomplished.  He proposes to follow the July 2002 St. Mary’s County salary schedule.  The Court reporter position should be reclassified.  The law clerk position should be reclassified.  The administrative position will be eliminated.  Money left over will be returned to the County.  Raley said he plans to retire in February of 2013. Judge Raley has a real time court reporter.  She is the only one certified for that in the whole circuit.  Raley said the system is very effective.  He can produce testimony overnight.  This type of Court reporting is different and the Singer people didn’t seem to understand that.  Forrest said that staff should be directed to present a budget amendment.  The judge will be returning about $25,000 a year.  Comm Raley asked how this affects the other two judge’s chambers.  Kaminetz said this does not affect other chambers. Every judge, he said, should be able, within limits, to run his chambers as he pleases.  Kaminetz said he needs an administrative assistant.  Raley asked why this wasn’t included in the normal budget process.  Schultz said it was the Singer study.  Kaminetz noted that this is the first proposal that consolidates the positions.  The reorganization was authorized.  The vote was 5 - 0.  Raley asked about the judge’s request for a laptop.  Forrest said staff was working on it.  Raley said the judge can have his.  Mattingly apologized for delays.  Raley said the judiciary supplies a judicial product to the public.  </div> <div> John Savich <B>came to ask for authorization of a letter of intent for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Maryland Housing Rehabilitation Program.  </B>Dennis Nicholson introduced Tonja Frazier-Jenkins and Sandra Johnson.  Nicholson said the loans are available to replace a well.  The loans are for people whose income is less than $40,000 a year, and interest rates vary from 4% to deferral.  The BOCC needs to sign off on a letter of intent.  Raley asked how much we got last year.  Nicholson said we got $45,000 last year.  Nicholson noted that the whole $45,000 went to the public in response to a question from Raley.  It was approved.  The vote was 5 - 0.  The nest item was a letter for the transfer of the ST. Mary’s county tax-exempt housing bond allocation to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Administration.  Savich said this is a program that hasn’t worked well for the County, but would be even more complex.  McK said we ought to make this program work. Nicholson said we have to have a product ready to go that the bonds are related to.  The State says it will issue the bonds, and we’ll hold the money reserved for you for 60 days.  Nicholson says they have asked to have the 60 days expanded, but the State has to have the money placed within 60 days.  This money is for home ownership.  It competes with other products.  It’s a 4.95% fixed rate for 30 years mortgage.  If we do nothing, then our allocation won’t be used by anybody.  The State needs a greater public relations program.  McK asked how this is marketed.  Is there an aggressive method?  Nicholson said the State is marketing it now.  We have been invited to an upcoming meeting on Sept 18 at Solomons.  McK asked if we could tap this into a local housing development program.  Savich said it’s a low cost program for home ownership.  Savich said the DCHD leadership is trying to do things.  This is something we could work with the State on, he continued.  Mattingly asked about the property that had been transferred to the Southern Maryland Tri County.  We haven’t heard a word on it.  Could we use that property and this program?  We need to get housing up.  The clock is ticking.  George Forrest said he has talked to Dana Jones, and he will come to the BOCC.  We’ll get an update.  If  he can’‘t deal with it now, tell us that.  McK said he was very distress to hear Jones say that we are not doing what Calvert is doing.  Jarboe noted our maximum purchase fee is $160,000 and Charles County is $225,000.  Nicholson said our County has to live with that because we are not in the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area.  Nicholson said there were three loans made last year for about $400,000.  McK said there was $2.5 million, and we used $400,000.  Jarboe said realtors have to know about this.  There is a limited time frame.  A realtor could make a sale out of this.  Nicholson said they are trying to get this on channel 12.  Raley said if we do this program, and it’s not utilized for 60 days the State then they can use it State wide.  Nicholson said if we have it we would have to issue the bonds.  Nicholson said if he asked for $35,000 to issue bonds. . . McK said maybe we need to do more research.  Savich said this isn’t just our problem.  Raley asked if an organization could use this $2.5 million.  Nicholson said yes, but we have to match the schedule.  The motion to authorize was made by Mattingly after saying he didn’t like it.  McK said he thinks they have a sense of the BOCC’s intentions.  Savich said yes.  Nicholson said you are either in the urban area, or you’re not.  </div> <div> The Sheriff’s Department (Capt.  Cusick) came to ask to be allowed to amend the budget to allow the use of an additional $1,062 which has been received.  The amendment was approved.  The vote was 5 - 0.</div> <div> The Acting Facilities Manager, William Russell, presented a budget amendment for $235,886 to purchase and install new air handler and chiller at the Adult Detention Center. Replacement parts have become unavailable.  The system was initially installed not to Carrier’s specs.  They wasted $18,000 on compressors.  Now we have to replace the entire system.  The air handler is out dated.  If they undercharge the system it runs, sort of.  They had to put water on the condenser coils to keep the compressors from blowing up.  The system is unrepairable.  Russell said it’s just unworkable.  It’s an inherited situation.  McK asked about the contractor and was told they have done hundreds of thousands of dollars in work for the County.  McK said this project will cost the County $235,886.  Russell said the electrical side is already there.  The money in the proposal is for wiring to connect the system.  This is a new system from Trane.  Raley asked where t he money is coming from.  Kramer said building project repairs.  Raley asked if it empties the account, and Kramer said it leaves some money ($50,000).  He continued asking if there is enough money left, and Russell said yes.  Raley said he hopes County government is paying special attention to the HVAC system.  Forrest said we do have legal recourse and are actively pursuing recouping costs.  McK said he finds local guys are pretty good contractors.  Winters and these people know what they are doing.  They approved the new system.  The vote was 5 - 0.  The next item is an emergency preparedness briefing.  Phil Cooper said it is still a category three, and it’s only moving at 7 mph.  It’s deteriorating and could still do damage.  We will be hit on the westerly side of southern Maryland, which means tornadic activity will be in our area.  It is assumed to be at least 100 mph winds.  We can expect landfall late Thursday afternoon.  Shelters have been identified.  There is a press release with recommendations for evacuation and preparing for the storm.  Shelters at Chopticon, Great Mills, Leonardtown High, and Spring Ridge Middle will open tomorrow morning.  People who live in low lying areas or trailers should seek shelter.  The Health Department and other agencies are aware of time lines and are waiting for a final decision.  Staff is on a conference call with Maryland Emergency Management.  He will confer with peers in Charles and Calvert Counties who are coordinating.  The County Fair knows that there will be heavy winds and rain.  Saturday and Sunday should be good days for the fair.  The dam in St. Mary’s Lake has been relieved.  There will be flooding in Great Mills.  We are at an above normal tide and the water is not receding.  The phones are ringing.  People are asking about sandbags.  Southern States in Charlotte Hall has a few.  The closet resource is a couple of States away.  Government employees are getting families prepared and homes secured.  Forrest said the concern is rain damage to old buildings and windows and window seals.  He said school closing decisions have not been made.  The Board of Ed has not decided yet.  On Wednesday there will be an information hot line.  Employees have been pulled off leave.  Mattingly said the cable tv network was interrupted by a test of the information network.  He reminded the public there will be activity in the emergency center.  Please do not use the 911 number for any but emergency calls.  McK asked if generators have been tested, especially MetCom.  Cooper said review of MetCom generators has already begun.  When the wind goes up to 60 mph plus the staff will secure the electricity to water and sewage pumps.  Once the storm is complete, they will start up the system.  People are asked to store 3 gallons per person per day.  Put blankets, pillows, medications, toiletry items. Flashlights, batteries, AM-FM radios.  Notify your family if you are leaving the area.  Include a non-electric can opener.  Raley said we need to be aware of it and not get hysterical.  Clean your gutter.  Get your car out from under a tree.  McK said we do want citizens to take this seriously, but not to panic.  This assurance is assuring, he continued.  </div> <div> After a break, Mr. Forrest began by discussing his information on reorganization.  First he looked at the mission statement -be responsible and accountable to the citizens of the community. Provide high quality cost effect and efficient services, Preserve the County’s environment, heritage, and rural character; foster opportunity for present and future generations.  We want good people, citizen service, safety and environment, quality processes, innovation and technology, internal systems that speak to one another, and an organization is right sized, results driven, and forward looking.</div> <div> He received input from department directors, other agencies, and citizen input.  They looked at surround counties’ organizations and he showed the charts.  Calvert County has a very cluttered organizational chart which includes non County agencies and Boards and committees.  Carroll County has a chief of staff.  In Charles County the County administrator has five key agencies, and his deputy has five agencies.  Queen Anne County has clustered their organization into four groups.  In St. Mary’s County, the County Attorney reports to the County Commissioners.  Forrest is recommending seven proposed functional groupings: County Administrator, Planning and Development, Safety and Health, Community Enhancement, Public Business, Information Technology.  The big change is that human resources management would fall under the County Administrator.  Operation would include public facilities oversight, Roads and building construction and Maintenance, public transportation (to include schools), solid and hazardous waste disposal, infrastructure development ( including cable franchise), liaison with utility companies.  </div> <div> Planning and Development would have planning and zoning for land use, \planning community economic growth, business development, permits and enforcement, agriculture, liaison and lead with pax River, staff for Planning Commission, Economic Development Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals.  Safety and Health would include emergency management, liaison to the Sheriff, the judiciary, State police and State’s Attorney.  </div> <div> Community Enhancement would include parks and Recreation, Community Service, Senior Citizen Program. Housing Program, Tourism Programs, Museum Operations and Programs.  Public Business would discharge fiduciary responsibility of the BOCC, prepare the budget, manage procurement interface with rating agencies, manage centralized financial system. coordinate and monitor grant program, manage other sources of funding.  Information Technology would develop and manage technology program, manage GIS programs, manage and coordinate procurement of software and hardware for County agencies, support and maintain IT equipment inventory, support and maintain the phone system, and supervises the County system of record maintenance.  Forrest believes it provides an appropriate and efficient span of control, increases the opportunity for more integrated planning and management of government services, reduces duplication of like functions, improves the quality of service.</div> <div> McK said they would take if under advisement.  McK said the economic development department seems to be in with the land use and growth management department.   Forrest said economic development is where we talk about business and business development and a driving factor is how we make use of the land to do that.  McK noted there were functions under the County Administrator such as legal counsel.  You’re not assuming that the County Attorney would report to the County Administrator instead of to the BOCC, are you?  No, said Forrest, the administrator needs legal counsel, mostly when he deals with employees.  Mattingly said they just got this.  He wants to look at this and digest it.  He needs a lot of explanation on legal counsel.  He needs to think about it a little bit.  We have to be sure we cover the vital aspects of government.  Some of the Counties shown are very small.  We are more like Charles and Calvert County.  McK said Calvert County is going through the same process.  Forrest said we have 12 departments that he would consider departments.  The purpose here is to try to do some clustering.  When presented to EC, he said, there were many questions on economic development.  He suggested the cluster managers be selected and then they accomplish the detail of the reorganization.  He said he is not sending a message to department heads that their department is on the chopping block.  McK said he thinks the clusters are more balanced.  How do you structure the cluster?  That’s where Raley’s concerns can get addressed.  McK thinks it could deliver better service in a more efficient manner.  No one’s job is being threatened, said McK.  Forrest was instructed to put it back on the agenda for two weeks from now.  </div> <div> The next item is Commissioner time.  Dement said he saw the well attended remembrance day for 9/11.  He got to Point Lookout for a rescue squad fund raiser.  Dement said he watched them.   He attended the outdoor mass at Holy Face.  He congratulates Glen Wood and Elizabeth Tooms for their 50<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> anniversary.  He went to Longview Beach looking for an event that didn’t happen.  Sunday he went to the miniature golf tournament, which was well attended.  Comm Mattingly attended the MALF program.  He was concerned about funding by a mechanism that includes St. Mary’s County Citizens, but doesn’t allow them to participate because our land values are too high.  He went to the Corinthian Yacht Club.  He attended the Minority Business Alliance banquet at the Loeffler Center.  George Forrest was the guest speaker.  It was a nice event.  There is a Tri County council meeting Wednesday night.  Dement said he would have liked to attend the event at the Nursing Center.  Jarboe presented a proclamation.  He thanked the Willet family for their music.  There has been a letter from Sarbanes about a housing situation in Chaptico.  Can’t the Housing authority help?  Isn’t this house a Christmas is April candidate.  Raley attended the United way kick off.  93 cents out of every dollar goes to the charities.  He went to the 7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> district American Legion post where they held a ceremony for the burning of the flags.  They burned over 400.  In last week’s Enterprise there was a letter and an article that could lead to misconceptions.  Raley said he is not against new technology.  He was a member of the efficiency task force.  They recommended an information technology department.  He is for advances in technology.  County employees . .  He thinks they think he doesn’t appreciate the contribution of our County employees.  He is not against County employees.  McK said he had the pleasure of presenting a 60<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> anniversary proclamation.  He congratulated Forrest on his recognition at the Minority Business Alliance. McK will be leaving for a Critical Area Meeting next Tuesday.  He thinks we are ready to take up discussion on the Mass Transit Authority.  McK had breakfast with a group of admirals and it was a good opportunity to showcase Pax River. </div> <div> <B>After lunch, Allen Kutz and Danita Boonchaisri, director, came with John Savich to talk about the Small Business Development Center</B>.  Delegate Anthony O’Donnell came in. </div> <div> Darnita presented the Goals to help Southern Maryland businesses come into existence, grow, and prosper.  The current focus is to start businesses, do outreach to veterans, minorities, and women.  They are helping with government contracting/procurement.  They have a counselor who is an expert in procurement.  They offer assistance with business plan development, assistance in market analysis, finding sources of capital.  They provide no cost counseling by professionals, an extensive reference library, low cost training, and community resources/partners.  They have done workshops on QuickBooks, marketing strategies, etc.  They have counseled 175 clients, 50% were women.  They trained 162 people, and helped people get loans totaling $1,000,000.  They partner with our office of economic development.  McK asked about a seminar in government contracting/procurement. He wants that seminar moved to St. Mary’s County.  She would like to do that, Boonchaisri said. Allen Kurtz said they will be increasing the number of opportunities to do that.  McK said we want to do a good job on getting the information to our businesses.  McK asked if we have a program to target businesses two or three years old.  McK said they have to get a business license at the court house.  Boonchaisri said bankers are good sources of references.  Savich said this is a set of services we would want to offer under any circumstances.  He continued, our businesses get better services this way than they would get any other way.  Savich said there is a renewal of the memorandum of understanding, and asked for their approval which includes $15,000.  McK would like to have a government training session included and they said they would.  Savich said they should have asked for more.  Jarboe asked when the counseling sessions will take places.  Boonchaisri said they will have sessions twice a week beginning on Thursday the 25<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT>.  Delegate O’Donnell said he was here to see the presentation by the Sec’y of Transportation.  He is pleased that we have an open ear in the Department of Transportation.  With the storm bearing down on us, transportation becomes very important.  This administration is doing something, he said Dollars are tight.  Good to see you, he concluded. </div> <div> After a break,  the State Highway Administration (SHA) Secretary Flannagan came to present the SHA transportation program.  This is the first day of the first CPT tour.  Flannagan said they were involved in defending a lawsuit intended to shut down all federal transportation funding to the Washington area.  We have, he said, made one of the best efforts in the nation, we’re # 1 in car pooling, #1 in telecommuting, and 2<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >nd</FONT> in the use of mass transportation.  We have very very serious congestion problems.  He believes the transportation program is not balanced.  In investment in highways, the State of Md is #47.  Citizens pay the price.  It takes longer to get to work and to get home.  They have increased risk of accidents and increased insurance premiums.  He wants to put the transportation program back in balance.  The general fund had a $1.7 billion deficit and 6 weeks to balance the budget. The budget had to be printed before he took office and before his appointees were in place.  He took $300 million from the highway fund.  The deficit is still in place.  The Transportation Trust Fund  . . .  They knew beforehand that they had things that needed to be fixed. $30 billion was identified as the amount needed to fund traffic needs.  We are in a state of crisis in terms of unfunded transportation needs, particularly highways.  This must be addressed in the next legislative session.  SHA is doing planning and engineering work for important projects.  We know that Southern Maryland has huge projects.  That’s a very expensive project, but a very high priority.  Widening Chancellors Run and Pt Lookout Road, widening Patuxent Beach Road and a second span for the Thomas Johnson Bridge, etc.  We will have to sort of priorities with your legislative leaders, the people who represent you in Annapolis.  For a healthy program, Maryland has needs.  We get.  He said federal funding in six year blocks.  The current re authorization bill expires in Oct.  We will probably get a 6-month bill.  They may extend it beyond the date of the election.  There seems to be hope for a modest increase.  We are a donor State.  We get $.90 back of every dollar we send to the federal government.  The other element is State funding.  It’s important for our citizens to understand.  The transportation hasn’t been able to afford any new transportation trust fund projects in the past two years.  The Hellman Commission is to help stabilize the transportation trust fund.  What we need to convince them is that they will get something back in return.  Governor Ehrlich said it is very important to him that we keep faith with the voters.  It’s important he said, for government not to do business as usual.  We know we have to explain the depletion of the transportation trust fund.  We are doing broad and far reaching cost containment.  We continue a hiring freeze at the Department and will save $2.1 million in fiscal ‘04.  He has hired 50 more MVA frontline employees.  We are making reasonable exceptions.  He said they found places where they had contractor employees and they could do it less expensively if they did it themselves.  They have eliminated low performance bus routes.  We haved to get 40% fare box recovery.  They are looking at new transportation intiatives.  The DC Metro system was 90% funded by federal funds.  We are looking for more bang for the buck.  We are using at bus routes.  They are looking at the sale of assets.  They own the World Trade Center in Baltimore.  They allowed a tenant to stay for 6 months without paying his $25,000 a month rent.  They are selling the building.  They are selling land around transit stops.  They are selling and taking a lease back and sharing the tax benefits.  They are trying to deal with MVA programs.  They are going to WMATA and working with Washington and Virginia and saying we need cost containment here too.  Management salary increases were cut in half.  The Port Administration had flower deliveries at $1,800 a year.  Our citizens are paying now.  They are paying as a result of congestion and lack of safety.  It wastes gasoline which causes environmental problems.  The average person in the Washington Metropolitan Area spends $650 on congestion related expenses.  The cost for the loss of lives and personal injuries is unpleasant to consider.  What we want to do is to reduce the congestion and risk tax.  We are determined to establish a more balanced transportation program.  Neil Peterson presented the capital program. In 1999 Maryland had 598 fatalities, less than 600 for the first time in many years.  Since then it has gone to 660 fatalities.  Last year there were 592 homicides compared to 660 traffic deaths.  In St. Mary’s County there were 3 homicide and 17 traffic deaths.  They provide highway safety grants.  They will review the $12,000,000 now being spent to make sure the money is being well used.  It is often not recognized that traffic fatalities are just as great a problem as homocides.  Drunk and drugged drivers are the greatest danger.  46% of drunk and druggeddrivers do not have seatbelts fastened.  90% of County drivers wear seat belts.  They are intending to complete 235 by October.  The cost was about $75 million, and it’s expected to be completed by October.  Pt. Lookout State Park’s access road, Maryland Route 5, has been engineered, but they need funding to complete it.  They have been looking at the intersection of maryland Route 5 and Scotland Beach Road that would cost about $1.5 million.  The entire cost is $13 million.  Chancellors Run Road is about 35% complete.  They need another $700,000 to complete the engineering.  They have been looking at the jarboesville Road intersection.  It will cost about $45, million.  Last year Delegate Bohanan asked them to look at low cost improvements, a number of which are underway now.  </div> <div> Greg Welker came to talk about completed project.  Thompsons Corner to Budds Creek has been resurfaced.  Coltons Point Road has been resurfaced.  They have done resurfacing on MD 235.  On 234, Medleys Neck Road, they did some resurfacing.  Hollywood Road is being resurfaced.  There is a roundabout proposed for 234 and 238.  That intersection is the #1 safety issue.  They have trieds signs and lights. Now they will do a round about.  On Sept 23 they will be holding a public meeting at Christ Church in Chaptico.  They have two neighborhood conservation projects, one for Leonardtown and one for Great Mills Road, that are on hold The Hughesville by-pass, Neil Peterson said, is the number 1 priority.  Engineering is complete.  Right-of-way is well underway.  Utility relocations have been funded.  The project will be ready when they have funding.  The thomas Johnson Bridge is experiencing near capacity conditions, he continued.  Flannagan said he appreciates having Del O’Donnell working with him.  McK said they are doing the same things that are being done in ST. Mary’s County.  McK said we have a need to build a school and you need to build a park’n’ride.  We would like to talk about trading land. mcK said they are willing to work in any way we can.  McK said if you break the right of way, we would like to have the State take the section north from there.  We would hope to get school property.  McK said it’s the citizens of St. Mary’s County who have borne the brunt of the delays.  He is also hoping for an overpass at Route 4 and 235.  He is concerned that curing is jumping out into the curb lane.  McK suggested cutting back the design in total and do something on a smaller scale.  Wider shoulders are all that’s needed.  They are planning, said Peterson, 2 11 foot lanes with an 8 foot shoulder.  Raley thanked Mr. Flannagan.  He appreciates the new MVA office in Loveville.  He appreciates the support for the bus service.  Raley continued that every person on Route 4 is coming to PAX River.  We all benefit from Pax River, and lost functions could cost us money. He doesn’t think phase III will be done by the end of October, but it has to be completed.  He wants to focus on Point Lookout Road.  People in the lower end of the County don’t want $13 million spent on that road.  There has been a drop off in usage at Pt. Lookout Park, Raley said, because of the road.  Chancellors Run Road is dangerous.  We need that road.  We must safeguard that Navy Base.  Great Mills Road generates just as many complaints as Route 235.  Staff says we should do the stormwater management.  He says that 1.4 mi section of road is in desperate need of surfacing.  It is significantly bad.  Mr. Secretary, you go to every County in this State, and you are underfunded.  Flannagan said he is very concerned about the Navy Base.  Mattingly said you probably recognize that all those roads are in his district.  One project he is concerned about is the intersection of Maryland 245.  Mattingly asked to have it show up in the capital plan.  Our highways are degrading.  Route 5 in Charlottesville is cupping and there are hydroplaning accidents.  We want to eliminate delayed response due to the 11,000 trips to the hospital.  Mattingly asked to have them check the cost and see whether anything can be done.  We want to have user fees to pay for projects.  The meeting was adjourned.     </div> </td> </tr></table></body>