These highlights only reflect the business items covered from the Council’s approved agenda. To view the complete County Council meeting, please visit: Talbot County Meeting Videos – Talbot County, Maryland (www.talbotcountymd.gov).
Presentation by the Honorable Stephen H. Kehoe, Judge, Circuit Court for Talbot County – Judge Kehoe congratulated the County Council members on their election and stated he looked forward to working with them over the next four years. Judge Kehoe briefed Council on the purpose of the Circuit Court and invited the members to visit the Court.
SaveStation Cabinet at North Easton Park
Update from Talbot County Department of Emergency Services and Talbot County Paramedic Foundation on the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program – Wayne Dyott, President, Talbot County Paramedic Foundation; Bill Wilson, Board Member and Chair of AED Program, Talbot County Paramedic Foundation; Brian LeCates, Director, Talbot County Department of Emergency Services – Director LeCates briefed Council on the County’s AED public access program that has been in place since 2000. There are over 220 AEDs placed throughout the County in both public and private organizations and businesses. Director LeCates noted since the inception of the program, there have been multiple “saves”. He thanked Talbot County Paramedic Foundation for their partnership in developing a grant program to replace AEDs as units come to their end-of-life cycle. Mr. Dyott noted that the County’s Public Access Defibrillator program is nationally recognized and in 2001 was given an award by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. In continuing their partnership with Talbot County Department of Emergency Services, SaveStations AED cabinets are being placed in parks throughout the County including North Easton Park and Idlewild Park. The SaveStations are lighted, heated, ventilated and fully-monitored and are part of the first gold standard project for the Paramedic Foundation meaning that there is a three-minute response from the time of the cardiac event to accessing the AED device. Each SaveStation cabinet costs approximately $5,500. Mr. Dyott thanked Team Trace Foundation from Wye Mills for their partnership in fundraising for the program to offset costs and thanked the Town of Easton, Easton Utilities and Gunther’s Electric for their assistance installing the SaveStation cabinets.
County Manager’s Report –
- Board and Committee Appointments
Mr. Stamp requested the appointment of County Council liaisons to the following boards and committees:
o Airport Board – Chuck Callahan
o Board of Education liaison – Chuck Callahan
o Commission on Aging – Lynn Mielke
o Economic Development Commission – Chuck Callahan
o Emergency Services Advisory Board – Dave Stepp
o Golf Board – Lynn Mielke
o Talbot County Free Library Board – Pete Lesher
o Local Emergency Planning Commission – Dave Stepp
o Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Legislative Committee – Keasha Haythe (primary member); Lynn Mielke (alternate member)
o Mid-Shore Regional Council – Chuck Callahan and Lynn Mielke
o Neighborhood Service Center Board of Directors – Keasha Haythe
o Parks and Recreation Advisory Board – Dave Stepp
o Public Works Advisory Board – Pete Lesher
o Talbot County Social Services Board of Directors – Pete Lesher
o Talbot Arts Council – Pete Lesher
o Talbot County Chamber of Commerce – Government and Regulatory Workgroup – Keasha Haythe
o Talbot Family Network Board of Directors – Chuck Callahan
o Tourism Board – Keasha Haythe
o Upper Shore Aging, Inc. Board of Directors – Pete Lesher
o Weed Control Committee – Dave Stepp
Upon motion by Mr. Lesher, seconded by Ms. Haythe, the appointments were unanimously approved by Council.
- Request from Department of Public Works to Purchase Septic Tank Effluent Pump (STEP) Systems for the Region II (St. Michaels) Wastewater System and E/One Grinder Pumps for the Region I (St. (Unionville, Tunis Mills, Copperville) Wastewater System – Council unanimously approved the request from the Department of Public Works for the purchase of eight (8) replacement E-One grinder pumps from Freemire and Associates in the sum of $25,639.20. The cost will be charged to the Unionville/Tunis Mills/Copperville operating budget. Additionally, Council approved the purchase of ten (10) Orenco STEP units in the sum of $68,679.44. The cost will be charged to the St. Michaels Asset budget.
- Request from Department of Public Works – Recommendation to Award Contract for Expansion of Spray Irrigation Field for The Preserve at Wye Mills Wastewater Treatment Plant – Council unanimously approved the request from the Department of Public Works to award the spray irrigation work to Sussex Irrigation in the sum of $27,762.68. The cost will be charged to Preserve at Wye Mills Contractual Services line item.
- Request for Letter of Support for University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s Certificate of Need (CON) Application to the Maryland Health Care Commission for the Regional Medical Center project – Council unanimously approved submitting a letter of support.
- Request for Mid-Year Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for County Employees – By a vote of 4-0-1, with Mr. Stepp abstaining, the Council approved a 2% mid-year COLA for County employees in the amount of $264,545. Mr. Stamp explained that due to inflationary pressures and similar COLA adjustments being made by the State of Maryland and Queen Anne’s and Caroline counties, he is recommending the mid-year adjustment to recruit and retain County staff. There are sufficient funds in the FY23 budget.
The Council’s next legislative meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room. The County Council will be meeting on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. with the local delegation to discuss the upcoming state legislative session and at 4:00 p.m. with Dr. Clifford Coppersmith, President, Chesapeake College for an orientation. Both meetings are open to the public and will be held in the Bradley Meeting Room.
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
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