ST. MARY S COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL MEETING THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2009 ROOM 14, POTOMAC BUILDING The following Board Members were present: Ella May Russell, William B. Icenhower, Lori Jennings-Harris, Doris Bean, Constance Walker, H. S. Lanny Lancaster, Kathy O Brien, Pastor Marguerite Morris, Dan Schaidt, Gerard McGloin, Joan Gelrud, Melissa Charbonnet, Dennis Nicholson Board Member Absent: Staff Present: Visitor: Pete Cucinotta, George Donely, Julie Randall, Joe Trentacosta, Sheriff Tim Cameron, Carol Gallagher, Melissa Alexander Bennett Connelly, Sharon Ferris Chris Melendez, Assistant Executive Director Leah s House LT Deborah Diedrich Call to Order. Ella May Russell called meeting to order at 9:00. Reading and Approval of Minutes. January minutes were read and approved with noted changes. Reports. The Nominating committee (Kathy O Brien, Missy Alexander, Carol Gallagher) met on February 17 and, according to the stipulation in the bylaws regarding slate of officers, made the following recommendations: Chairperson: Joan Gelrud, St Mary s Hospital Vice Chair: Ella May Russell, Department of Social Services Corresponding Secretary: Carol Gallagher, Executive Committee: Consumer - Missy Alexander Business - Joe Trentacosta Provider - Lanny Lancaster Julie Randall recommended (by phone) that one more person be added to the executive committee so there would be an odd number of people on the committee. Recommendation is Connie Walker. Discussion followed concerning pros and cons of adding an additional person to the Executive Committee and if the Council decides to add another person then we might want to have that person be an expert on Robert s Rules and titled a Parliamentarian. The Council discussed having a parking lot of bylaw items to look at one or twice annually so we can make recommendations to the county commissioners as needed. Marguerite Morris objected to the slate of officers. She objected to Lanny Lancaster being on the Executive Committee. She said there was an incident where inaccurate information was passed to the commissioners.
Kathy O Brien moved that the officers and executive committee be approved as presented. Doris Bean Seconded. Vote 9 for, 1 Opposed, 2 abstained. Motion passed. [Note: Membership of the Executive Committee includes five members: Chair, Vice Chair, and 3 members as presented; therefore there is an odd number for meeting purposes] Update from, Mini Grant Committee (Bennett Connelly). Seventeen proposals were received. The committee met on February 24, 2009 and recommended funding for eleven. The names of those recommended will be going to the Commissioners on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. Update on Presentation to Commissioners on 27 th of January(Bennett Connelly). During the meeting the Commissioners approved the recommendation that $50,000 go to DSS for emergency services, the Human Services bylaws, and FY09-FY10 Action Plan. On behalf of the Human Services Council, Lanny Lancaster presented a Housing Resolution to the Board. Items from January meeting. Sheriff Cameron recommended someone from the Jail should be on Council. The bylaws would have to be changed to accommodate this. The Council members discussed having the jail representative as an advisor. Grants Matrix. The Department of Human Services has this for action. Recommendation to forward letters from this Council to the legislature. Bennett Connelly checked the protocol with Mr. Savich. This Council is a local county appointed body that advises the Board; therefore, the Council would make a recommendation to the commissioners and they will send to the legislature if they support. It was noted there are other boards in the county that are not county appointed that do send letters directly to legislature. Unfinished Business. Housing Assessment (Bennett Connelly/Dennis Nichols): Proposal to do housing plan. The Council discussed the type of housing opportunities in St. Mary s and the needs of certain income populations in the county. There is a need for a snapshot of where housing market is now, and try to move forward to see ongoing data. The group discussed the importance of gathering the data before a Comprehensive Plan goes to the Board of County Commissioners. The first step is to do a needs assessment. To do this the availability of resources (approx $20,000) needs top be identified to hire a contractor. Staff is identifying the sources of funds to complete the work this year. The Tri-County Council/Veterans Committee did a focus group with Veteran Service members and active duty members at the Blue Crab Stadium on February 21, and the issue of affordable housing was at the top of their list. Connie Walker is the point of contact if Veteran input is needed.
Employment-Disability Needs Assessment(Julie Randall). Julie was absent so her presentation is tabled until next meeting. Workforce Investment Board (Ella May Russell). Ella May distributed a power point presentation explaining the purpose of the Board and their membership. The purpose to look at employment and training needs of all populations of the three counties. In St Mary s County services will be provided by the Community Development Corporation which has jobs connection. The Staff providing services in St. Mary s County will be located in the Department of Labor License and Regulations office in Leonardtown. Workforce Investment Board meetings will be the second Tuesday of the month at 8:00 in Hughesville at Tri County Council. Bob Shaller represents St. Mary s County. Ella May suggested if someone from the Human Service Council could attend it would be beneficial. Transportation Mobility Grant (Ella May Russell). Cathy Zumbrun from the Department of Social Services located and applied for this Federal Grant. The objective is to determine how we can have a comprehensive transportation system in this community. Currently there are several small buses and vans operating throughout the County for individual populations (Dept. of Aging, Health Department, Center for Life, etc.) The Dept. of Social Services is currently subsidizing the STS bus to operate on Sunday down the 235 corridor and the Great Mills area because people need to go to church and people work on Sundays. Discussion followed concerning various reasons for services currently provided e.g., the Health Department picks up clients to transport them to scheduled doctor appointments and if they miss an appointment then it is a problem. The Health Department must maintain that priority. The Federal Veterans Administration is sending a delegation to St. Mary s County on March 12 & 13 to discuss the level of services available in Southern Maryland; bearing in mind that transportation to Baltimore and Washington is very difficult. Behavioral Health Federal designation Health-Mental Health (Joan Gelrud). St. Mary s County does not meet the criteria for Federal designation for being an underserved area for primary care. Staff from the Health Department, Department of Human Services and St. Mary s Hospital is working to complete a survey of physicians in St. Mary s County. Timeline for approval is about six months once the data is forwarded to the State and then to the Federal Government. The County is designated as underserved for Dental and Mental Health in the Lexington Park area but not considered underserved in primary care. Bennett Connelly said the Mental Health designation request, which needs renewed every three years, has already been submitted. State Budget Updates (Bennett Connelly). A Youth Suicide prevention Grant came into the Human Services Department this morning. There is $1.5M available state wide for the Grant. The first level which goes to the school is due March 13. The third level is targeting special population groups and is due April 13. Bennett has not seen the dollar amount for the third level.
Mental Hygiene Administration is negotiating their cuts now with the legislature on how much the counties will have to cut. It will be anywhere from 5-10%. The Local Management Board s cut so far it is 18% and there is a proposal to abolish the Governors Office for Children, a cost savings measure. Decision is still pending. The substance abuse letter regarding the budget level for FY10 is expected this week. New Business Walden Sierra is having a fund raiser luncheon at Outback Restaurant today at 11:30. There are four areas the Council is focused on and those four areas should be standing agenda topics and the people with the most information should provide the reports. If the Council would like a broader overarching report, if there are some hot topics the Council is working on, then the program specialist could report on it. A point in time survey is conducted every year for the Homeless Information System (HMIS). The survey was conducted in January and responses from a number of counters are still missing. Lanny stated the Federal Government contacted us this week to let us know we won all of our HUD grants (3 counties) and a new grant as well. Included in that was a 4% increase which is more than usual. The additional funding does not allow for more units at Three Oaks, but does help pay increases for the existing ones. There is a meeting February 26, at four o clock at the Ascension Church in St. Mary s County to discuss the potential of having a Safe Nights program in St. Mary s County like Charles and Calvert has. The Safe Nights Group is coming to the meeting to discuss how the program works. Second issue for discussion at the meeting is affordable housing and how they want to pursue. Grant Letter of Support. Marguerite Morris asked if the Council would sign a letter of support for a Grant she already submitted for Leah s House to assist in building a larger shelter in this County in a non priority funding area. In last months meeting minutes, the Council voted to accept the collaborative agreement; however, criteria was not yet established which would take all conflicts out of the equation when letters of support are requested. Before a letter can be signed by the Board, more information should be provided. Time sensitive issues do not have to wait for another scheduled meeting; therefore Marguerite was asked to draft a letter, put a one page cover sheet on it that explains where the dollars are coming from, if it is or is not competitive, what it does do what it doesn t do, and a reference point so the executive committee can contact them if they have more questions. The letter is needed as possible to the Executive Committee. Adjournment.
Motion was made to adjourn meeting and seconded and passed. Meeting adjourned at 11:00. Approved: