County Commissioners Seek Members for Expanded County
Ethics Commission
The County Commissioners of Caroline County have enacted a
more comprehensive
Code of Ethics ( 1.1 MB)
applicable to all Caroline County government officials and
employees, and to County-appointed boards, committees, and
commissions. Therefore, the Caroline County Ethics Commission,
which serves without pay, must be reconstituted, and the
Commissioners are now accepting expressions of interest in
membership on the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission
is responsible for administering the provisions of the County
ethics law, including rendering advisory opinions regarding the
application of the law to specific situations, investigating
and rendering decisions with respect to complaints regarding
alleged violations of the law, and reviewing disclosure
statements and lobbying registrations. The County Attorney
serves as counsel to the Commission and drafts its opinions.
Among the tasks of the reconstituted Ethics Commission will
be the creation and adoption of rules and regulations to carry
out the Code of Ethics.
Under the new law, this citizen-comprised board has been
enlarged from three to five members. No more than three
members of the Commission may be affiliated with the same
political party. All positions are currently vacant and
available for appointment, though current members are welcome
to apply. Initial appointments shall be staggered as follows:
two for one year terms, two for two year terms, and the fifth
for a three year term. Thereafter, all appointments shall be
for three year terms. Meetings are customarily held during
the day at the Caroline County Courthouse in Denton.
Eligible candidates must be residents of Caroline County.
Candidates must also have an impeccable personal and
professional reputation, and possess the ability to be
judicious and impartial. Other desirable qualifications
include a history of civic engagement and leadership and the
flexibility to meet on short notice. Candidates may be
subject to a criminal background check. If appointed, members
may be required to attend annual training workshops. Costs
associated with such workshops would be paid by the County.
Candidates should submit a brief letter describing why they
would like to be a member, and must complete a
County biographical information sheet ( 272 KB)
(which can also be obtained from the County Commissioners
Office). A copy of the new ethics legislation can also be
obtained from the Commissioners Office. The application
deadline is 4 PM on Friday, June 13. Submissions should be
sent to:
Caroline County Commissioners,
Courthouse,
109 Market Street, Room 123,
Denton, MD 21629
Submissions may also be made via email to
info@carolinemd.org.
For more information, please contact Sara Visintainer,
Caroline County Commissioners Office at Tel. 410.479.0660 or
via email at svisintainer@carolinemd.org.
Commissioners Publish Letter on Constant Yield Tax Rate
The Caroline County Commissioners have published an open letter on
the subject of the Constant Yield Tax Rate for Real Estate and the
advertisement required for this by the state, plus related information
about county taxes.
It provides a plain-English explanation of the Constant Yield Tax Rate
issue, how it is calculated, and how the county has not
increased the tax rate.
Open Letter from the County Commissioners on the Constant
Yield Tax Rate Ad and County Tax Facts ( 129 KB)
Plan for Increase in Number of County Commissioners
Presented
At the Tuesday May 13th meeting of the County Commissioners,
Victor K. Tervala of Funk & Bolton presented a report
which examines the reasons for and against expanding the
county's governing body. It also discusses and makes
recommendations on related issues such as the question of
whether commissioners should be elected at-large, by district,
or by some other manner; whether staggered terms of office
should be employed; and whether a formalized process for
electing the president of the board should be implemented.
It is available here for review; public hearings
will be held at a later date to receive input from the
county's citizens.
Report on the Size of the County Commission and Related
Issues 670 KB)
Traffic Impact Assessment Study Completed for
Mid-Shore Regional Landfill II
O. R. George & Associates, Inc. has completed a study
of traffic access needs and impact assessment for the Maryland
Environmental Service (MES). Now available online, it is
divided into several sections (warning: these are large files):
County Commissioners Seek Straw Poll on School Board
Selections
Caroline County's Legislative Delegation has filed a bill
regarding the method of selection for members of the
Board of Education, as requested by the County Commissioners.
To read the full text of the bill,
click here. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click
"First Reading" to open a PDF of the full text.
FY 2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of Caroline County,
Maryland, for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2007, was submitted
as mandated by state and local law. These laws require that
Caroline County annually issue a report of its financial position
and activity, and that this report be audited by an independent
firm of licensed certified public accountants selected by the
County Commissioners.
Caroline County Government’s financial statements have been
audited by
Murphy & Murphy CPA, LLC, Independent Certified Public
Accountants. The goal of the independent audit is to provide
reasonable assurance that the financial statements of Caroline
County Government for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007 are
free of material misstatement.
2007 Audit Statement ( 2.93 MB)
Caroline County Housing Improvement Program (CHIP)
This is a program to provide rehabilitation for owner occupied
homes in Caroline County. Homeowners must have lived there a
year, have a clear deed and qualify as low income according to
the HUD guidelines. There is a lien on the house for 5 years.
This is forgiven at 20% a year. Assistance is provided regarding
other programs as the need may arise. This includes the
Accessible Homes for Seniors (over 55) which provides
improvements for handicapped accessibility.
Contact Diane Wojcik, 443-786-0129, for more information.
Information about Midshore Regional Solid Waste Facility
The Midshore Regional Solid Waste Facility in Easton, MD takes
care of the waste disposal needs for Caroline, Kent, Queen
Anne's and Talbot County. As of 2011, operations will move to
a site in Caroline County.
Midshore II will be located at
the Holly Road / River Road site and is currently in the
planning stages. This landfill is scheduled to open for full
operations not later than January 1, 2011.
Visit their
web site to learn more including contact information and
hours of operation, or
read our
brochure about it to learn more ( 582 KB).
Presentation on Tax Assessments
At the Commissioners meeting of Tuesday February 27th 2007,
Dana Jarrell, Supervisor of the Caroline County Office of the
Maryland Department of Assessments, gave a presentation which
provided a great deal of information about how taxes were
assessed for the county and state by the
Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
You can read the
full
transcript of the presentation here. ( 122 KB)
Five-Year Manufacturer's Real Property Tax Credits
Applications for Five-Year Manufacturer's Real Property Tax
Credits on County Taxes are now being accepted. You may
download
the application form ( 270 KB) fill it out, and return
to
County Commissioners of Caroline County
Courthouse
109 Market Street
Room 123
Denton MD 21629
Contact the Commissioners Office at (410) 479-0660 for further
information.
Choptank Marina Gains 'Clean Marina' Certification
Choptank Marina, operated by the Caroline County
Department of Parks
and Recreation, has been certified as a
Maryland Clean Marina by the
Maryland
Department of Natural Resources.
To earn the Clean Marina designation, Choptank Marina, managed
by George Jamar, voluntarily requested a site visit from DNR
staff and undertook recommendations to improve operations and
reduce risk of pollution.
Staff routinely provides customers with small petroleum
absorbent pads during fueling to catch incidental drips. The
marina also has a more thorough emergency response plan and
staff training in place. They participate in an oyster
restoration program and are replacing their light bulbs with
energy efficient compact fluorescents.
In response to federal legislation, the Maryland Clean Marina
Initiative began in 1998 with the goal to certify at least
25 percent of the marine facilities in Maryland as Clean
Marinas or Partners.
Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Families and Individuals
Even though we do not know when Pandemic Influenza will arrive
in the United States, pandemics in the past have taught us that
we should be prepared. Knowing what Pandemic Influenza is and
what you can do to prepare for it may make the impact on you
and your family less severe.
Please go to the web site listed below to find a copy of a
preparedness checklist developed by the Center for Disease
Control that will help you gather the information and resources
that you may need in case of an influenza pandemic. If you
would rather obtain more pandemic influenza information by
telephone, call the Caroline County Health Department at
(410) 479 8008.
www.pandemicflu.gov/planguide/checklist.html
Contact Information for Caroline County's Legislators
Click
here to view the contact information ( 108 KB).
If you live in Election Districts One
(Marydel/Henderson/Goldsboro) Two (Greensboro) or Three (Denton)
you are in State Legislative District 36; if you live in
Election Districts Four (Preston) Five (Federalsburg) Six
(Hillsboro) Seven (Ridgely) or Eight (American Corner) you are
in State Legislative District 37. But if in doubt, call the
Caroline County Board of Elections at 410-479-8145.
Caroline Commissioners Support Annexation Reform
The County Commissioners of Caroline County strongly support SB536,
a bill currently before the Maryland State Senate, entitled "Annexation
Planning and Procedures Act of 2006", which will allow county
governments and municipalities within their borders to work together
in planning aspects of municipal land annexations.
Click here to view the text. ( 210 KB)
Commissioners Oppose Latest Denton Annexation
In a letter dated February 6, 2006, the County Commissioners
of Caroline County expressed their opposition to new annexations
by the Town of Denton, north of town along Route 313.
You may read the letter ( 106 KB)
here, which was delivered in person by County Commission
President John W. Cole to the Town of Denton at their
Annexation Public Hearing.
Caroline County, Maryland
"The Quintessential Rural Place"
Strategic Thinking for the Future of Caroline County
to the Year of 2025
The Caroline County Commissioners hold as a top priority
the preservation of Caroline County as a "quintessential rural
place on the Eastern Shore of Maryland". Our County is
experiencing a significant rise in its population growth rate.
From now until 2010 the County will experience, arguably, the
most important five-year period since the jurisdiction was
established in 1774. The Caroline County Strategic Planning
Committee for Local Public Finance has issued its final
report which sets out both opportunities and threats
regarding provision of and payment for county and municipal
public services, including education, public safety, health
care, environmental protection, water supply and wastewater
disposal.
Click here to read the
Strategic Plan. ( 826 KB).
Most browsers have support for PDFs built in, but if you need
to install the free plug-in, visit the site for
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®.
ShoreCorps/PALS
ShoreCorps/PALS is an AmeriCorps program at
Salisbury
University which serves youth and adolescents at-risk on
Maryland's Eastern Shore. The partnership includes over twenty
agencies in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset,
Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties.
Visit the
ShoreCorps/PALS web site to learn more.
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