Council Meeting Highlights, November 12, 2024
11/14/2024
Category: County Council
Rachel Smith, Chair, and Jenna Marchi, Vice Chair, Talbot County Commission on Aging present information on hunger and homelessness.
Organizations recieve proclamation recognizing hunger and homelessness awareness month.
Graduates of the 2nd Talbot Business Works Academy.
The Talbot County Council held their regular meeting on November 12, 2024, at 6 p.m.; Council Members Pete Lesher, Keasha Haythe, and Lynn Mielke were present. Council Members Chuck Callahan and Dave Stepp were absent but submitted absentee ballots for some items.
Proclamation: Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month
The Council designated November as Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month to bring attention to the difficulty of individuals and families experiencing hunger and homelessness both in our community and across Maryland.
According to the Maryland Food Bank, 13.9% of Talbot County’s population deals with food insecurity and partner agencies distributed over 750,000 pounds of food in the area over the last year.[1]
In 2023, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development identified 686 people in the Midshore region who received some form of homelessness-related care and/or shelter assistance.[2]
“Of course housing insecurity and hunger impact people of all ages, but older adults are in fact the fastest-growing age group experiencing homelessness in America,” stated Jenna Marchi, Vice Chair, Talbot County Commission on Aging. during the Council meeting. “Locally, there have been similar trends of increasing hunger and housing insecurity amongst older adults.”
Many organizations gathered to accept the proclamation, as we have so many in the community working every day to address these issues. In attendance were representatives from the following: Talbot Interfaith Shelter, Neighborhood Service Center, St. Vincent de Paul, Mid Shore Roundtable on Homelessness at Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Talbot County Public Schools McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Program, Mid Shore Council on Family Violence, and the Talbot County Commission on Aging.
The County will be sharing different resources, events, and statistics related to hunger and homelessness during the week of November 17-23, 2024, which is recognized nationally as Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
Talbot Works Business Academy Graduates
The 2nd cohort of the Talbot Works Business Academy officially completed the program and received their graduation certificates from Council.
The program, which was launched earlier this year, teaches local entrepreneurs and small businesses cash-flow projection forecasts and focuses on establishing a growth plan. Under leadership of Will Holmes of WHC, a Baltimore-based consulting company, participants attended eight (8) 3-hour sessions and were mentored by experts in law, accounting, human resources, marketing, and operations.
The 8-week online accelerator program targeted largely minority business owners with a desire to increase revenue, add jobs, and make an impact on the local economy. In addition to a certificate of completion, the small business owners will receive a $2,000 grant to invest in their business, which was provided by an anonymous donor for assistance to small businesses in our community.
Members of the graduating cohort include the following: Stefanie L. DeFiglia, Two Tree Health Associates, LLC ; Kiersten L. Mueller, Another Level Fitness, LLC; Edward L. Roberts, Sr., CUTZ by Eddie LLC; Neoma L. Salvaje, Eleventh House Solutions LLC; Kristi S. Shaw, Coastal Retreat Studios & Wellness, LLC; Kristin M. Tallent, Right Choice Plumbing & Rooter LLC; Anijah Wilson, Libby’s Loving Hands, LLC, and Lisa D. Wilson, Beauty of Restoration Treatment Center LLC.
For more information, go to talbotworks.org.
Update by Maryland Environmental Services
Maryland Environmental Services (MES) provided an update on their partnership with the County. The Midshore Regional Solid Waste System serves the solid waste needs of Talbot, Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties.
Talbot County hosted the Midshore Region I Landfill, which closed in December 2010 but continues to operate as a transfer station for Talbot County residents. MES performs daily maintenance at the site, managing landfill gas and leachate control. Due to new Maryland regulations regarding methane emission standards, a consultant for MES conducted an evaluation of the volume of gases released by the utility flares at the site, and the quantity of methane included in the gases to determine if an enclosed flare was required to be installed at the site to reduce the quantity of methane released into the atmosphere. The consultant determined that the volume of gas released from Midshore Midshore I, and the methane contained in same, did not warrant the installation of enclosed flares at the present time. From April through September 2024, the Midshore I transfer station received 22,010 tons of total waste, 1,877 tons of yard waste, and performed 18,885 scalehouse transactions.
In July 2024, the participating counties and MES formalized to an agreement to extend the service period of Midshore II Regional Landfill (Midshore II), located in Caroline County. The MOU authorizes the extension of Midshore II until all permitted airspace is consumed. The estimated closure date is expected to be in March of 2042. As part of the extension, Caroline County will receive a host fee of $3 per ton until December 2030, and a host fee of $6 beginning January 2031. County roads around the site are also expected to be improved as part of the contract, including River Road and Holly Road.
Planning for the Midshore III Regional Landfill, which will be located in Queen Anne’s County, has already begun. While the location would not open until the 2040s, Phase I and Phase II of the permitting process, which include submittal of supplemental zoning and land use information, MDE’s approval of Phase I, and site environmental investigation, is underway.
MES also highlighted the Midshore Regional Recycling Program. This program, which operates under a separate agreement from the landfill, provides recycling services for the region. From April 2024 to September 2024, the program collected 1,636 total tons of metal, plastic, paper, cardboard, and glass for resale. In FY24, the program netted $144,295 in income, some of which is put into the operating reserve fund and the County surplus accounts. The County surplus accounts will be used in the future to improve the program in the County.
For more information about MES or the partnership, visit www.menv.com.
Senior Care Plan
Carrie Ottey, RN, BSN, Community Health Nurse Supervisor, Talbot County Health Department provided a comprehensive update on the Talbot County Senior Care Partnership, which is a Maryland Department of Aging program that is administered locally by the Talbot County Health Department.
The senior care program is a statewide grant program that provides services and funds for people aged 65 and older who may be at risk of nursing home placement. The aim is to help seniors remain safely in the community for as long as possible by providing four core services: screening for eligibility for supportive programs, comprehensive assessments of individual needs, case managers to secure and coordinate services, and providing a pool of “gap funds” to purchase services not covered by other programs.
In Talbot County the Senior Care Plan is a formal partnership with the Talbot County Health Department, Upper Shore Aging, Department of Social Services, and the Talbot County Government. County residents who are 65 or older, have a moderate or severe functional disability, and meet financial eligibility requirements are eligible to participate in the program.
In 2024, the program served 207 seniors in Talbot County and continues to see a increased need from the community.
To learn more about the program and other senior assistance programs, visit: talbothealth.org/senior-services/ or call 410-819-5600.
Other Business
- Council referred an application by Shannahan Holdings Inc. and Destination Holdings LLC to rezone their respective properties on St. Michaels Road from Town Residential (TR) to General Commercial (GR) to be reviewed by Planning and Zoning and subsequently presented to the Planning Commission for review and a recommendation to Council.
- Council unanimously approved an administrative resolution to change legislative Council meeting times from 6 p.m. to 5 p.m. indefinitely. The change takes effect immediately, starting with the next Council meeting on November 26, 2024 at 5 p.m.
- Resolution No. 364, introduced by Council Members Lesher, Haythe, and Mielke, requests to close county-maintained roads, Wallys Way and Bethany Lane, and turn over to Chamberlain LLC for no monetary consideration. The roads are currently maintained by the County, but do not serve any general public interest.
- Clay Stamp, County Manager presented several board nominations for the Council’s Consideration
- Commission on Aging – Council unanimously appointed Rachael Cox, Talbot County Department of Emergency Services and Andy Hollis, Delmarva Community Services to the Board.
- Emergency Services Advisory Board – Council unanimously appointed Morris E. “Sonny” Jones to the Board as the representative from the Talbot County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association.
- Frederick Douglass Park on the Tuckahoe Committee – Council unanimously reappointed Harriette Lowery to the Committee.
- Historic Preservation Commission – Council unanimously appointed Bryan McGunigle to the Commission.
- Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Legislative Committee – Council unanimously reappointed Keasha Haythe as the primary member and Lynn Mielke as the alternate member to the Committee.
- Talbot Family Network Board of Directors – Council unanimously appointed Matthew Sevon to the Board.
- Weed Control Committee – Council unanimously reappointed Jay Shortall to the Committee.
- The Department of Technical Services and Department of Emergency Services requested use of FY25 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding for several items to support the Emergency Service’s department move to the Public Safety Complex located at 28640 Marys Court, Easton in early next year. The request for procurement of networking equipment ($670,152), redundant fiber line ($159,562), and computer equipment ($195,810), and office furniture ($233,496) is all within budget of the project. The requests were unanimously approved by Council.
- At the request of the Department of Parks and Recreation, Council unanimously approved the award of Bid No. 24-18, Fairbanks Landing Pier redecking, to Sweitzer Marine LLC in the amount of $54,395. The project is fully funded through the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
- The Department of Public Works requested additional funding for Bid 22-07, the update to the 2024 Report of the Review, in the adjusted amount of $166,184. The project is scheduled to be completed in the next few months, but the department and contractor (Rauch, Inc.) have spent additional time and resources during development. The request was unanimously approved.
- Public Works also received unanimous approval to reject all three bids received for Bid No. 23-10, Talbot County, Maryland – Sanitary District Septic Tank Effluent Pump (STEP) System Installation and Connection, Resolution No. 235 to allow the County the opportunity to continue to review ways to reduce overall costs for property owners seeking to connect to sewer system as outlined in Resolution No. 235.
- Council unanimously approved providing a Letter of Support for Envision the Choptank’s proposal to participate in Maryland’s Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership program. If approved, Brennan Tarleton, Director of Planning and Zoning, will serve as the County’s point of contact on the program.
- Council unanimously approved the public works agreement and the deed of easement for stormwater management for the Regional Medical Center (RMC) project. The agreement includes improvements to the Talbot County Community Center Rt. 50 entrance, which will also serve as a main entrance to the RMC property.
- Council unanimously approved awarding Bid 24-12, Update to the Talbot County Comprehensive Plan project to Wallace Montgomery & Associates in the amount of $151,550. “The Comprehensive Plan plays a very important role and is the guiding document for the future of public policy and growth within the county,” stated Brennan Tarleton, Director of Planning and Zoning. More information, including the planning process, how to provide feedback, and more will be available for the public as the project gets underway.
The Council’s next legislative meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room located in the South Wing, Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street, Easton. The meeting open to the public. Please note the meeting time has changed.
[1] MFB Hunger Map 2024
[2] ICH Meeting Slide Deck - November 2023.pptx
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