Talbot County, Maryland

10/24/2024

Category: County Council

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Local emergency services and For All Seasons provided information on their innovative new peer-to-peer service program, Talbot FiRST!.

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Council Member Lynn Mileke present proclamation for Operation Green Light

The Talbot County Council held their regular meeting on October 22, 2024, at 6 p.m.; all Council members were present.

County Hires Housing Coordinator, Shalunda Collins

Brennan Tarleton, Director of Planning and Zoning, introduced the Department’s new housing coordinator, Shalunda Collins. Collins comes to the County from the Neighborhood Service Center and is excited to serve the community by providing resources and paths to housing and housing assistance in Talbot County.

For more information on Housing, or to schedule an appointment with Collins, visit www.talbotcountymd.gov/housing

Proclamation: Operation Green Light for Veterans

Lisa Short, Behavioral Health Coordinator and Adult Population Supervisor, and Ashley Strazza, CRPS, Behavioral Health Coordinator and Peer Outreach of Mid-Shore Behavioral Health; Douglas Willey, former Post Commander and Charles Engh, current Post Commander for American Legion Post 70; and William Griffin, Commander for Blake Blackston American Legion Post 77 accepted a proclamation to recognize Operation Green Light for Veterans.

The proclamation encourages citizens to recognize the importance of honoring those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom through their service in the U.S. Armed Forces by displaying green lights in their place of business or residence from November 4 through November 11, 2024.

Maryland is home to approximately 360,000 veterans, and an additional 100,000 active military personnel, and Talbot County has the second highest number of veterans on the Eastern Shore. “There is an increasing knowledge that we need to support our Veterans and have more resources available to them, so we’re appreciative of Operation Green Light, that draws attention to this issue.” mentioned Lisa Short.

The Operation Green Light initiative aims to provide educational opportunities for government, businesses, organizations, and individuals to learn about the struggles and challenges faced by Veterans as they return to civilian life, including challenges with mental health.

Short mentioned several resources that are available to Veterans. On a national level, the recently launched Veterans Crisis Line, which can be reached by “dialing 988 then pressing 1”, can connect Veterans and family members to personnel trained in crisis intervention and military culture.

Locally, she encourages Veterans to connect with their local VA and use that in tandem with other services such as Cambridge VA Outpatient Clinic, Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), Maryland's Commitment to Veterans, Perry Point VA Medical Center, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), and the Veteran and Military Support Alliance (VAMSA). These resources include healthcare, mental health support, housing assistance, crisis intervention, substance use services, and peer support for veterans.

Douglas Willey, former Post Commander for American Legion Post 70, said, “There are far too many Veterans that are transitioning [from military service] that are committing suicide. It’s up to us to stop it, to try to prevent it. Just outreach is our main goal.”

William Griffin, Commander for Blake Blackston American Legion Post 77, mentioned that they are launching the Hometown Heroes Banner Program in Easton. The program aims to honor past and present members of the Armed Forces, First Responders, and their family members. To request a banner form, reach out to hometownheroeaston@gmail.com or call Legion Post 77 at 410-822-4486.

For additional resources, visit www.veterans.maryland.gov, or reach out to Dina Karpf, Resource Coordinator for our area, MD’s Commitment to Veterans at 410-725-9996.

Update from Talbot Humane

During the recent update to the Talbot County Council, Patty Crankshaw-Quimby, Executive Director, Talbot Humane, shared the latest statistics for Fiscal Year 2024. The organization managed 590 stray animals, 454 owner surrenders, and handled 340 animal control calls, mainly related to bite cases, stray animals, and law violations. Talbot Humane adopted out 622 animals, reunited 154 with their owners, and transferred 87 to other organizations. Their efforts, including fostering and open adoption programs, have helped prevent overcrowding despite an increase in intake numbers, which are now at 2015 levels.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Talbot Humane's spay/neuter program, which has significantly contributed to a 48% decline in animal intake since 2004. The program served 1,702 animals in FY 2024, including additional medical services for 213 pets. For Fiscal Year 2025, Talbot Humane secured a $61,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Agriculture to continue offering free spay/neuter services to qualifying residents of Talbot and Dorchester counties. Crankshaw-Quimby encourages anyone in need of these services to reach out as soon as possible, as they are currently scheduled for about 2 months out for both dogs and cats.

Looking ahead, Talbot Humane has several community events planned. The 3rd annual Pop-Up Holiday Boutique will open on November 1st and will feature unique gifts, raffle baskets, and special activities like Santa visits, pet-themed painting sessions, and a cookie walk.

In addition, for the first time, Talbot Humane will be hosting “doggie daycare” services at the 53rd Annual Waterfowl Festival. Dog owners who travel with their pup to the event and would like to enjoy the fine arts exhibits (where pets are prohibited) will be able to sign up for services.

For more details and to get involved, community members can visit Talbot Humane's website at www.talbothumane.org or social media pages.

Presentation on Talbot FiRST! First Responders Support Team

Brian LeCates, Director, Talbot County Department of Emergency Services; Tina Kintop, EMS Division Chief, Talbot County Department of Emergency Services, Beth Ann Dorman, For All Seasons President and CEO and Matt Watkins, former DES Division Chief and member Talbot FiRST! provided information on their innovative new peer-to-peer service program, Talbot FiRST!.

“Every day people call 911…and they are in crisis. Our responders go out and take care of that crisis and manage it for them, but eventually that takes a toll on our first responders,” said LeCates. “This is the group that takes care of the folks that take care of our community.”

Talbot FiRST! aims to create a comprehensive peer support program that embeds mental health services across all first responder sectors, ensuring that mental health considerations are integral to every aspect of strategic planning and program development.

Through strategic collaboration, ongoing promotion and awareness efforts, accessible services, and continuous evaluation and feedback, the program seeks to improve mental health outcomes for first responders, reduce stigma, and provide critical support tailored to the unique challenges of their profession.

“There has always been a stigma, ‘don’t tell anybody that you aren’t dealing with it well, because you’ll be looked on as weak.’ Nobody wants to be viewed as weak, we are supposed to be the ones wearing the capes,” mentioned Kintop. “We put this team together so peers can talk to each other, to relate to each other…we want to change that [stigma].” Volunteer peer support members are vetted, and interviewed by the steering committee, and once selected, receive training in active listening, crisis intervention, confidentiality, and referral processes, as well as education on mental health awareness and self-care strategies.

The program is an interdisciplinary group with local police, firefighters, emergency services, and correctional officers with clinical services through For All Seasons.

Other Business

• Former Del. Carl L. Anderton, is the new Director of Rural Economic Strategy for the Maryland Department of Commerce. Anderton will serve as the Department’s principal adviser on rural economic development and spearhead the Administration’s strategies and policies on expanding economic opportunities and business growth in rural communities, with priority focus on Western Maryland, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore. “We are glad to have a familiar face, and somebody that truly understands rural Maryland,” said Council Member Keasha Haythe. 
• Council unanimously approved Bill No. 1579 which addresses conditions for approval of Bill No. 1544 by the Maryland Critical Area Commission. The Planning Commission reviewed and recommended approval, noting consistency with the 2016 Comprehensive Plan.
• The County Manager presented several board nominations for the Council’s consideration:
  • Social Services Board of Directors – Council unanimously approved the appointment of Jacqueline Reyes
  • Tourism Board – Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Mark Salter and Amy Kriener, and the appointment of Chris Agharabi and Patricia McGlannan
  • Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board – Council unanimously approved the recommendation for the reappointment of John Murray. A letter of recommendation will be sent to the Governor’s Office for consideration of reappointment.
  • Hog Neck Golf Course requested approval to award a contract for renovations of their Café Kitchen for Alto-Hartley in the amount of $94,896. The request was unanimously approved.
• John Horner, President and CEO of Easton Utilities, and Ray Clarke, County Engineer provided an update on extension of water and sewer to the new regional medical center located on Longwoods Rd. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Easton Utilities has agreed to assume engineering, construction, maintenance and operations for water and sewer to the facility. Talbot County will provide financial commitment for the project. The MOU was approved unanimously.
• The next Midshore Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-Off Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 2024. Residents of Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties may drop off HHW items, free of charge from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. To see a full list of acceptable items, visit https://talbotcountymd.gov/hhwguidelines
• The Public Service Commission of Maryland will hold a public comment hearing on Crockett Solar, LLC.’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a 61.20 MW solar photovoltaic generating facility in Talbot County, MD on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Cordova Fire Department, 11864 Kittys Corner Road, Cordova Maryland 21625. If any member of the public wishes to attend and speak at the hearing, there is no need to sign up in advance. Members of the public who would like to participate virtually should forward an email to psc.pulj@gmail.com by 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Additionally, barring technical difficulties, this second public hearing will be streamed live to YouTube and allow for virtual participation, if necessary.
• The County would also like to offer their sincerest thank you to Brian Moore, Superintendent, Roads and County Facilities, the Roads Department, Department of Public Works, and contractor David A. Bramble for their fast-paced and excellent improvements to Airport Road, Hiners Lane, Goldsborough Neck Road, and Hailem School Road.
• The Talbot County Sheriff's Office has moved to the new Public Safety Complex located at 28640 Marys Court, Easton MD 21601.  County Manager Stamp thanked the Sheriff’s Office, Department of Public Works, Department of Emergency Services, Facilities and Technology Services for their efforts supporting this project and noted that the Department of Emergency Services will eventually be relocating to the facility.  A building dedication will be held in Spring 2025.

The Talbot County Council will hold a work session on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.to discuss proposed reserve fund policies.  The meeting will take placein the Bradley Meeting Room and   is open to the public.

The Talbot County Council will meet with elected officials and staff from Easton, Oxford, Queen Anne, St. Michaels, and Trappe,  on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 5 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Easton Branck of  theTalbot County Free Library. The meeting is open to the public.

The Council’s next legislative meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, beginning at 6:00 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.

county council council highlights proclamation