BOCC 4/27/04

<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="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC Meeting Notes 1/1/04 6/30/04"><U><B>BOCC Meeting Notes 1/1/04 - 6/30/04</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="id180.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 1/6/04"><U>BOCC 1/6/04</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 1/13/04"><U>BOCC 1/13/04</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 2/3/04"><U>BOCC 2/3/04</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id185.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 3/16/04"><U>BOCC 3/16/04</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id187.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 3/23/04"><U>BOCC 3/23/04</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id184.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 4/6/04"><U>BOCC 4/6/04</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id199.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 4/20/04"><U>BOCC 4/20/04</U></A>   |   <B>BOCC 4/27/04</B></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 4/27/04</I></div> <div> When I arrived,  the members of the Best Buddies program of Chopticon High were telling everyone about their program.  Special Education students are paired with a friend who accompanies them to games and on other outings.  .</div> <div> Paul Fasching of the Fasching Corp. presented another 30 acres to the County.  The first 20 acres was given to the County two years ago.  This land is adjacent to Spring Ridge Middle School.  Mr. Facchina was complement by all the Commissioners.  Mr. Facchina has donated about 1,500 acres of land to the various counties including 7 - 8 miles of waterfront.  Facchina said you can’t take it with you so you want to leave it behind in a meaningful way, and this is meaningful.  Comm Mattingly noted that there are about 4 or 500 acres.  Sasscer said this property has been called the Riley property.  It was zoned PUD and had a sewer line through it.  It could have accommodated 4 or 5 units to the acre.  This property has always been a major threat.  People are very excited to know that there won’t be more than one house per 50 acres on this property.  Comm Mattingly moved to authorize Comm McK to accept the land.  The vote was 5 - 0</div> <div> The distinguished County employee of the  year was recognized.  This employee worked all night at the park and then took over as umpire when the umpires were late.  Who is this employee?  Marcus Tyrone Harris.  Mr. Harris said he could not have earned this award without the help of Mr. Rollins and the staff.  All the commissioners lionized him.  There is a benefit game for the Hall of fame and Comms McKay, Raley, and Dement will play in ladies clothing.  Alexis ? of the Mental Health Authority thanked Tyrone for his help.  Arthur Shepherd thanked Tyrone for all that he does.  Comm McK said Tyrone represents one of over 700 County employees.  </div> <div> Susan McNeil of the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation came to talk about a Taste of St. Mary’s. They have a variety of cuisine which the public can sample.  Here you do not walk from restaurant to restaurant but walk from place to place on the banks of the St. Mary’s River. There will be a 50's show band, the Fabulous Bel Airs.  There will be classic cars on display.  There are discount tickets at 301-475-6455.  It will be a kickoff for the summer tourist season.  The Foundation supports at least 13 student nurses as they receive their training.  Comm Raley thanked the foundation for its support of the hospital.  McNeil thanked Danny Rebarchik for the idea.  Raley thanked Ms.  McNeil for her help.  </div> <div> McK asked for an accelerated schedule for <B>County Administrator Time.  </B>The agendas were approved.  The next item was an antidisplacement and relocation assistance plan. We we told there are no financial implications in the plan.  It takes care of both northern and southern sections, Raley was told.  He asked and was told there is a limit to actual out of pocket expenses.  Mattingly noted There will be staged rehabilitation of housing until people can move back to their location.  Norris said people can be relocated to different units on the property.  The vote was 5 - There were 3 applications for Community Development Block Grants.  One is for Gateways (a Housing authority project), one for Three Oaks, and one for Hunting Creek (the Willows Road site now in the hands of the Tri-County Community Action Committee all three were approved.  McKay abstained.  Raley said he will not vote in favor of it Gateways.  The vote was 3 - 1 (Raley) with McK abstaining.  The BOCC was told that Hunting Creek had been approved for 100 units.  The vote was 5 - 0.  </div> <div> When I returned they was considering the agreement of lease with the State of Maryland on the Elms Power Plant siting property.  The vote was 5 - 0 in favor.  </div> <div> Sheriff Zylak asked to have a revenue and expense account set up for Federally Forfeited Funds.  This year the funds are $10,032 this year.  Funds can be used for equipment purchases, reward money, payments to informants, etc.  McK asked if they keep the money within the narcotic unit.  Zylak sais not entirely.   The vote was 5 - 0 in favor.  </div> <div> When I returned, they were discussing the eligibility list for Fire, Rescue, and advanced Life Support Departments for those who qualified for length of service awards.  The vote was 3 - 0 with two abstentions.  </div> <div> The DPWT asked to transfer funds from DPW to Solid Waste salary lines. The vote was 5- 0 in favor.</div> <div> The public works agreement for Greenbrier Subdivision was approved.  The vote was 5 - 0.</div> <div> The commissioners moved their meeting to the Loeffler Center where they had lunch with the seniors.  They were complimented for their handling of the Northern Senior Center and senior tax cap.</div> <div> Phil Rollins and Arthur Shepherd came to present a draft plan for raising standards in youth sports.  Standards refer to unsportsmanlike behavior, physical altercations and verbal sparring matches between coaches, parents, referees, and young people.  This is not what we want in our youth sports.  There are over 10,000 young people who participate in sports in our County.  Recs and Parks wants to be proactive in minimizing negative behavior. They gave out a chart on participation in sports which is reproduced below.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1851cb40.jpg" border=0 width="540" height="436" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The National Alliance for Youth Sports has a set of recommendations for addressing the increasing violence in youth sports.  The idea is to change the cultures of youth sports.  Recs and Parks wants to let people know what is expected.  The key strategies are reproduced below.  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1871fce0.jpg" border=0 width="543" height="462" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Recs and Parks has worked with the Recs and Parks Board as well as the youth sports leagues. They have MOU’s with the leagues.  They provide general oversight, provide and maintain safe playing fields, and offer the NYSCA training.  League requirements are below.  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="18925b80.jpg" border=0 width="549" height="440" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Rollins said this program is good.  Arthur Sothoron proposed the following.  The most interesting part of this is the Parents Code of Ethics.  .They will have a criminal background check in 2006.  They expect to prohibit smoking within 150 feet of a playing area.  There is now a crisis intervention plan developed in cooperation with Lt. John Quade.  The cost for this training and liability insurance would be about $13.00 per participant.  Costs are outlined below.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="18b1dab0.jpg" border=0 width="541" height="427" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> They expect to implement the program in the Fall of 2004.  The draft resolution would be adopted by the BOCC in May.  Arthur said he believes this will improve the sports experience for young people.  </div> <bR> <div> Comm McK asked if there had been meetings with all the youth sports leagues, and Arthur said they were all invited and all came.  He asked what the concerns are with the leagues and was told the cost and “big brother is watching.”  Rollins said it is not the intent to be interfering.  Sothoron said most people like the plan, in principle.  The big question is who should pay for it.  For most leagues it would cost about $5 per participant.  Rollins said some leagues believe that the County should pay for this initiative.  Jarboe asked if this plan is in response to problems in St. Mary’s County.  Rollins said he would say not.  Jarboe suggested having names in the newspaper.  Sometimes a simple answer is better.  Jarboe said he would like a public hearing on this issue.  Raley asked how much training coaches get and was told ½ day.   Got to go to Lexington Park, say some parents.  Rollins said some people coach because they know they will get some training.   Those who participate become certified coaches, said Rollins.  He noted that some leagues are doing some training.  He thinks people should meet these standards if they are going to use County facilities.  Maybe some things leagues are now doing should be established as policy.  Mattingly said it’s difficult to argue against this program.  The biggest criticism he has heard about sports programs is their cost, and maybe the BOCC should do something.  He was told the training is a one time thing.  McK said he had to go to the Waldorf Jaycees for his training as a coach. He wants to hear from the leagues.  Recs and Parks will present to their Board next week and then proceed with a public meeting.  </div> <div> The Next item was the Department of Economic Development’s tourism department to talk about <B>historic markers for Civil War Trails.</B>  Carolyn Luray brought Robin Melton, admistrator of Point Lookout Park.  Carolyn said she is pleased to announce the third Civil War Trail in Southern Maryland.  Antietam and Gettysburg are very popular, and she thinks St. Mary’s will be popular.  There is a map and some markers.  There is a John Wilkes Booth trail.  The tour is on the map.  We have 6 sites in St. Mary’s County which are on the map, and there are interpretations on the map.  Carolyn is excited about the other opportunities this will bring to us.  This was a community effort. Robin Melton said they are thrilled about the markers.  They hope to be open by Memorial Day.  Comm McK said they are all delighted to hear that the camp may be open.  He was told that one loop to camp sites is closed, meaning that 3/4 are open.  She believes they will all be open by Memorial Day.  Raley asked what if someone just wants to ride through, will they pay?  He was told now they can drive through without paying.  Raley said the key has always been the causeway.  He was told that option is still available, but there is an expense.  Robin said during the week they can come and go as they please.  On weekends, they require a reentry fee.  Some 18 passenger vans will bring more than one load.  One can buy a park pass.  Raley asked if Robin would come to tell the Secretary of Transportation how narrow the road is.  The rescue squad had a hard time getting their boat to the facility.  He said he would like to point to her in the audience.  She said she understands there is a plan on the books to do that road.  Carolyn Luray said Robin’s facility brings in about 500,000 people a year.  There will be a tour from Smith Island Facilities.  Carolyn said she and a staffer have completed the Maryland National Certification Program and are nationally certified travel counselors.  </div> <div> Next was decision time for land preservation districts.  The vote was 5 - 0 in favor of these districts.  </div> <div> <B>Commissioner Time -</B> McK thanked the principal of Mechanicsville Elementary School, Bonnie Abell,  where the Baldridge method has been implemented.  Everyone has their own goals, from custodial staff to the students.  He was with the Young Ladies and Gentlemen’s Club.  Next Tuesday from 4 - 6:00 PM they will have a business roundtable in the Library.  The Budget hearing is Thursday at 6:30 PM and April 28 at 2:30 they will have a signing of the joint agreement at Town Creek Elementary School.  Comm Dement made a number of social events.  He and his wife went around to 10 Christmas in April homes.  He said Linda Simkins. of 994-1215 would like more children for youth group events for the pentecostal church.  Comm Mattingly said he went to arbor day at Greenwell Park.  He went to wellness day.  The State Ladies Auxiliary was hosted at the 7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> District fire house.  ABATE was at the Rack Road Inn.  He went to the Spring Fling at Leonardtown.  He represented the BOCC at St. Mary’s College.  Comm Jarboe said they received a letter from the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department about the Chaptico Fire Department and Jarboe would like a reply drafted ASAP.  Comm Raley congratulated Christmas in April.  Raley said he wanted to congratulate the new people who are living in St. Mary’s County.  He encouraged those from the northern end to come down to the southern end and vice versa.  He thinks we should travel on the back roads.  The fish are biting.  They went into an executive session to address personnel issues.  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>