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 of Certificates of Recognition to Brian Moore, Talbot County Facilities Manager; Joe Duncan, Northeast Regional Manager, Royal Plus Disaster Cleanup; Jason Ortt, Royal Plus Disaster Cleanup; Cody Erb, Royal Plus Disaster Cleanup – The Council presented Certificates of Recognition to Brian Moore, Talbot County Facilities Manager and Joe Duncan, Jason Ortt and Cody Erb from Royal Plus Disaster Cleanup in recognition of their mitigation efforts as a result of a fire in the North Wing of the Courthouse in December 2021. Mr. Callahan stated, “Just like my colleagues said, “Everybody had a part in it, what a phenomenal team you guys were; Royal Plus, top notch, we really appreciate everything, we really, really do – your response was phenomenal.” Mr. Stamp stated, “Had it not been for the work of these gentlemen before you, not only would the cost have been a lot greater, but we would have had a very difficult time getting back in a healthy building. I just want to say that Brian Moore cut his vacation short and we made a call to Matt Odachowski, the owner of Royal Plus, and these gentlemen here, who, within hours, had multiple people here, 14 -15 people, vehicles, tractor trailer, equipment which they immediately fired up, began mold abatement and everything else. It was an amazing sight to see.”
Presentation of Certificate of Recognition to Corporal Pierre L.A. Tue, Talbot County Department of Corrections Employee of the Year 2021 – Council presented a Certificate of Recognition to Corporal Pierre L.A. Tue who has been recognized as the 2021 Department of Corrections Employee of the Year. Corporal Tue has been employed with Talbot County Department of Corrections since September 2019. Terry Kokolis, Director, Department of Corrections stated, “I introduce Corporal Pierre Tue to you. He is our Employee of the Year, but not only is our Employee of the Year, but he is one of the chief multipliers of the Department of Corrections. His work, both behind the walls and in the community, is to be commended. Corporal Tue had long had a sense of empathy – he has the size – but he has the empathy that when he approaches any scenario, people listen, and if they first listen because they see size, they then hear what it is that he is saying, and what he says is a combination of setting people straight – young people. He works extraordinarily well with young people in the community and has long worked with them in the community; he is a resident of Easton and is a member of the Department of Corrections that is preceded by the term ‘Talbot County’. It’s Talbot County’s correctional system that is manifested as the Department of Corrections. Corporal Tue is the Talbot County Department of Corrections inside and outside…..You can see all his colleagues in the back of the room that are here because that is the type of command respect that he has from both his peers, subordinates, managers and the entire inmate population of the Department of Corrections.”
The update and request by Mid-Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. was postponed to a later date at Kathryn Dilley’s request.
Introduction of Legislation:
A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 56 (ELECTRICAL STANDARDS) OF THE TALBOT COUNTY CODE FOR THE PURPOSES OF INCORPORATING AMENDMENTS TO THE MARYLAND ELECTRICIANS ACT ENACTED BY THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY PURSUANT TO SENATE BILL 762 – CHAPTER 708, ACTS OF 2021 AND INCORPORATING THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, AS UPDATED FROM TIME TO TIME, AS THE MINIMUM STANDARD FOR ELECTRICAL WORK IN TALBOT COUNTY, MARYLAND
Mr. Thomas provided a briefing on the purpose of the legislation, stating that the proposed legislation is required to address changes in State law related to licensing for certain classes of electricians and an update on language referencing the National Electrical Code. Bill No. 1499 was introduced by Mr. Callahan, Mr. Divilio, Mr. Lesher and Ms. Price; Mr. Pack was absent. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 60 (ETHICS PROVISIONS) OF THE TALBOT COUNTY CODE FOR THE PURPOSES OF INCORPORATING AMENDMENTS ENACTED BY THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY PURSUANT TO HOUSE BILL 879 – CHAPTER 31, ACTS OF 2017, HOUSE BILL 363 – CHAPTER 252, ACTS OF 2021, AND HOUSE BILL 1058 – CHAPTER 425, ACTS OF 2021 AND PROVIDING THAT THE MEMBERS OF CERTAIN COUNTY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES SHALL BE SUBJECT TO CHAPTER 60 AS NONELECTED OFFICIALS
Mr. Thomas provided a briefing on the purpose of the legislation, stating that the proposed legislation is in response to a letter from the State Ethics Commission advising that certain changes needed to be made to the County’s Ethics Code to comply with recent State law as well as changes made in State law in 2017 that were not made to the County’s Ethics Code; it also brings various County boards, commissions, and committees under the County Ethics Code, including the Police Accountability Board and Administrative Charging Committee, which are required under State law to be under the County Ethics Code. Bill No. 1500 was introduced by Mr. Callahan, Mr. Divilio, Mr. Lesher and Ms. Price; Mr. Pack was absent. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
Eligible for Vote:
Resolution No. 328, A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE TALBOT COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE WATER AND SEWER PLAN TO REVISE CHAPTER THREE – AMENDMENT PROCEDURES
Resolution No. 328 was brought forward for vote. Mr. Thomas stated that at Council’s direction following the meeting of April 26, 2022, he had drafted an amendment which clarified that resolutions to amend the County’s Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan which are initiated by the County may be introduced by Council on any legislative day. The amendment to Resolution No. 328 will be scheduled for review by the Planning Commission at the earliest possible date.
County Manager’s Report:
- Board and Committee Appointments
o Adult Public Guardianship Review Board – Council unanimously approved the appointment of Heather Howes, LMSW, Channel Marker, to the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board.
o Golf Board – Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Ron Vener to the Golf Board.
o Social Services Board of Directors – Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Sarah Cloxton, Brenda Wooden and Rosalee Potter and the appointment of Reverend Susan Browning, Sandy Brown and Samantha Jeter to the Social Services Board of Directors. - Request to Replace Hot Water Heater at Department of Corrections – Council unanimously approved the replacement of the hot water heater at the Department of Corrections and to award the work to Electrical Automation Services, Inc. in the amount of $225,000. There are sufficient funds in the FY22 budget.
- Request to Declare May 17, 2022 Special Legislative Day – Council unanimously approved the declaration of May 17, 2022 as a Special Legislative Day for the purpose of adopting the FY23 budget.
Announcements – Mr. Stamp announced that Talbot County has been issued a 2022 Achievement Award from National Association of Counties (NACo) for the following program, “Creativity in County Government: Talbot County Leverages Resiliency Strategy to Address COVID-19 Pandemic”. Mr. Pack will accept the award during the NACo conference in Colorado this July. Mr. Stamp stated, “This recognition allows us to peek into the underpinning of a community that cares. Leaders from all parts of our community came together to address needs to ensure that we addressed those needs as they surfaced. It shows together we can be strong.”
The County Council’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 17, declared a Special Legislative Day, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Council will be convening in Open Session at 4:30 p.m. and then adjourning into Closed Session, to discuss real estate, legal and personnel matters as listed on the Statement for Closing that Meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
Photo: Talbot County Staff and Roy Plus Disaster Cleanup Staff accepting Certificates of Recognition for their mitigation efforts as a result of a fire in the North Wing of the Courthouse in December 2021. First row: Register of Wills Patricia “Patti” Campen; Clerk of Circuit Court Kathi Dulin Duvall; Hon. Stephen H. Kehoe, Court Administrative Judge Circuit Court for Talbot County; Council Member Laura Everngam Price; Royal Plus Disaster Cleanup Northeast Regional Manager Joe Duncan; Talbot County Facilities Manager Brian Moore; Royal Plus Disaster Cleanup Local Estimator Cody Erb; Royal Plus Disaster Cleanup Delmarva Mitigation Manager Jason Ortt; Council Vice President Pete Lesher; and Council Member Frank Divilio. Second Row: Council President, Chuck Callahan
Photo: Talbot County Department of Corrections 2021 Employee of the Year, Pierre L.A. Tue, accepting Certificate of Recognition. First row: Council President, Chuck Callahan; Corporal Pierre L.A. Tue; Family members of Corporal Tue. Second row: Council Member Frank Divilio; Council Vice President Pete Lesher; Council Member Laura Everngam Price (hidden)
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