[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6655084,"mediaKeyId","5421968-1800277c633636b1d458ebbe0e9e0a43","parentId",5421968,"title","Votes at a glance: Council approves decal rules, multiple budget and procurement resolutions; several items pass unanimously","audioSeconds",119,"startMs",271000,"endMs",390000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5421968-1800277c633636b1d458ebbe0e9e0a43&start=271&end=390","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5421968-1800277c633636b1d458ebbe0e9e0a43/thumbnail_271000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655084/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Council-approves-decal-rules-multiple-budget-and-procurement-resolutions-several-items-pass-unanimously","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655084-159a8f0317c373d81988d677bdab79bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114193&Signature=ozfVVrtvztEda5oPkDCbHL2W4GE4G4yVvqsjFI8rfJOsBNe0I4NZkVhrm62u8~QQc3lXuuP8BnF0u4WfNI8uXomRcWrUoAupP~XPFGHnM-3ZQ2UpclhqmafEDypbiC8pyiYMocWKcuMMFILUZhdqNnvDr02trQulhTUH-LuzN4sIWOK98fzoQ~6-X3xP-kjQsYBssONVCn9sdcPyrIv647NJ3KnCa2uF0Z4ZRNYzAsgVbJS3lqJExZO43Uf5QZ7~xfqjsRO~5xVWC687KjUKHg~nIHfiBprsj5NkkIsSOOwe-3RFTQJM7-rY2WEDJaLAjaHSN~8cZ6JbwRK95tIF7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wicomico County, MD","date","2025-07-17T11:42:38.453Z","article","The County Council recorded votes on multiple bills and resolutions during its July 15 legislative session. Below are the items the transcript records with outcomes, basic details and any council action noted during discussion.

Votes at a glance

- Legislative Bill 2025‑09 (amend Chapter 99 — county vehicles): Amended on the floor and approved unanimously in roll call. The amendment made the ordinance retroactive to the effective date of chapter 99 (Legislative Bill 2024‑12); the motion to amend and the amended bill passed unanimously by voice/roll call.

- Resolution 98‑2025 (supplemental appropriation — $40,000 from Narcotics Task Force for Child Advocacy Center renovations): Passed unanimously.

- Resolution 99‑2025 (accept FY26 community reinvestment and repair funds; approve Lead for Life as a vendor): Passed 4–2 after council debate and requests for follow‑up documentation.

- Resolution 101‑2025 (amend FY25 operating budget to reflect increased assessment office costs): Passed (unanimous consent recorded in transcript).

- Resolution 102‑2025 (sole‑source: Carter Machinery Company, Caterpillar/OEM parts for Solid Waste equipment): Passed unanimously (super‑majority threshold referenced; passed by recorded yea votes).

- Resolution 103‑2025 (sole‑source: Vermeer Mid‑Atlantic LLC for grinder/trommel parts/service): Passed unanimously.

- Resolution 104‑2025 (adopt FY2026 annual audit plan): Passed unanimously.

Procedural and consent items
- Consent agenda: Approved unanimously at the start of the meeting.
- Public hearings: Several hearings were opened and closed on bills/resolutions (some with no public comment recorded) prior to votes.

Notes and follow‑up requests
- For items approving grants or vendor relationships (notably resolution 99‑2025), council requested redacted vetting materials and performance measures from the administering board or department.
- For vehicle code amendments, the council adopted an amendment making the code change retroactive to the earlier ordinance’s effective date (as read on the floor).

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wicomico County Council July 15 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its July 15 meeting the Wicomico County Council approved a package of bills and resolutions, including an amended vehicle‑decal ordinance, several procurement sole‑source resolutions, supplemental budget adjustments and audit plan adoption. Tally and key details are listed below.","taxTitle","Wicomico County, Maryland","taxId",4258,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6655089,"Council approves $94,968 grant to Lead for Life after questions about vendor listings and oversight",833,462000,1295000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5421968-1800277c633636b1d458ebbe0e9e0a43&start=462&end=1295","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5421968-1800277c633636b1d458ebbe0e9e0a43/thumbnail_462000.jpg","/articles/6655089/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Council-approves-94968-grant-to-Lead-for-Life-after-questions-about-vendor-listings-and-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655089-2bb2914212e75e50b614f55359dbc287/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114193&Signature=faaieOQdUxjH-BBv6cNy5juRpBmyQuIx45QtyLr9asrF~TmEA5zWGXWUd7HIcdf7MTS38k5Tce4zGfqCg6cDtgxFPlqkkGw1ZfjOVJc0FvTufnYZVJqyadVUk-zdYA-iKFVT4YLEU7lrnY~KvTbegdDqkd3E2kWbiNHKGRNbs3PiEshAcgXk2wsYDr54jzwdV1xyFZgfU-Fyyt8O3bZapsf3V7J4vtgb~vfJX1dWaNxOlpDz0DdVG~RM1vIb0TL2Zpb~RMqE2VzqVdzjmE~PJlno0E608KgGolT5IKtCjihXttGEV9wCDlHJDCGHBJF~8ypHhn~KgBufhY3Jsb5~jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The County Council approved resolution 99‑2025 on July 15 to accept $94,968.80 in FY26 community reinvestment and repair funds for Lead for Life, Inc., but the vote followed detailed questions from council members about vetting and program oversight.

Stephanie King, director of the Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children (the local management board), told the council Lead for Life has been a vendor on other local programs and the resolution corrects an earlier paperwork error on the awarded amount. \"Lead for Life actually has been our vendor in other programs,\" King said, and she described established monthly financial oversight, quarterly site visits and pre/post participant surveys used to measure results.

Concerns raised and staff responses
- Legitimacy and addresses: Council members said the vendor’s brief included references to facilities such as a state prison at 302 Pacific Avenue and Poplar Hill prerelease, which at least one member said is closed. King acknowledged the listed locations and said Lead for Life provides services to detention populations and that the board had vetted applicants; she offered to provide redacted vetting documentation and scoring sheets to the council.
- Oversight and performance measurement: King described two site visits per quarter, monthly financial oversight of invoices and requirement for pre/post surveys of participants as the board’s monitoring practice.

Vote and outcome The council approved resolution 99‑2025 (accept grant funds and approve Lead for Life as a vendor for the local management board) by a 4‑to‑2 vote. Council members requested that the administration and the local management board provide redacted vetting and scoring materials and clarify the addresses and sites listed in the application.

Why it matters The resolution authorizes using community reinvestment funds (a portion of locally distributed cannabis excise proceeds and transfer‑tax‑related funds used for community projects) for services aimed at reentry and other targeted interventions. Council scrutiny reflects broader concerns about vendor vetting, use of public funds and ensuring program performance and geographic eligibility.

Next steps King agreed to supply the council with the vetting and scoring documents (with redactions as needed) and to follow up on zoning and site‑address questions for the facilities listed in Lead for Life’s application. Council members said they will monitor the program’s quarterly reports and performance measures.

","The council voted 4–2 to accept nearly $95,000 in FY26 community reinvestment funds for Lead for Life, but several members pressed the local management board on vetting, oversight and why outdated facility names appeared in the application.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6655093,"County finance details $1.5M end‑of‑year transfer to pension fund; officials urge steady annual contributions",2752,2798000,5550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5421968-1800277c633636b1d458ebbe0e9e0a43&start=2798&end=5550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5421968-1800277c633636b1d458ebbe0e9e0a43/thumbnail_2798000.jpg","/articles/6655093/Wicomico-County/Maryland/County-finance-details-15M-endofyear-transfer-to-pension-fund-officials-urge-steady-annual-contributions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655093-c6a77f6cfd571f00fbd358315bc6f8f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114193&Signature=DTg0z-OaBa~OzhbmxFjN4NKOBoX2T855VIGEuSPXcAXMK9KAujTBo561ZVMPDjOGbjNN7YCXw1oUHdJ7-d62mITJD4AGqGZlwbzvZDJaQXzRtSF-9GGXvlPYtGoZuGoJKJeqLFaA1dLeuhZUL2KMVPb99hGCzIcgNSDS~50l~K3YqkdaslJzgWR-M3ddDwckQDHOECVNEONePxLZFXBSvBg4PHHYTJEx~PjqHlkbkqjQr8Eag9E6d7KQyDlzVR4Y5MqRftDc5jwLVJ7gOLA2L8iaNMZZwjNl9vUUsrTLTY9xkKc3aTqp3ulQtUUx1amcrOHKuv8T6JBv-2EBkkS60g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy finance director Charles Schmeickel told the County Council during a July 15 work session that the county recorded an end‑of‑year transfer into its pension fund to improve the plan’s funded ratio and to show a consistent funding commitment to the actuary.

Schmeickel summarized the plan’s finances: “we have a total pension liability of a $137,000,000. We have an asset of a $101,000,000, and that gets us to the 73% funded,” he said. He described the pension as a long‑term obligation affected by investment returns, employee contributions and employer contributions, and urged steady contributions to reach a commonly used 80% funded goal.

What happened: Finance staff reported that, after reviewing audited balances and year‑end savings across departments, the administration used available FY25 savings (salary and operating underspends, rebates and similar items) and transferred approximately $1.5 million into the pension account before June 30, 2025. Finance characterized the transaction as a lawful budget transfer under the county charter and said the move was intended to be prudent for solvency and to improve actuarial assumptions.

Why it matters: The county’s pension plan is a material long‑term liability. Schmeickel and other finance staff said improving the funded ratio demonstrates a good‑faith commitment to retirees and to markets, and reduces the likelihood that actuarial assumptions will be adjusted downward because of a history of under‑funding.

Questions from council and answers
- Timing and magnitude: Finance said the transfer was possible because some FY25 budgeted amounts were not spent and because the county had sufficient fund balance; staff emphasized conservative estimates when calculating available savings.
- One‑time vs. recurring: Schmeickel said the transfer is a prudent step but not a permanent policy change; administration and finance suggested making similar end‑of‑year assessments in future years when savings exist, and stressed that a holistic approach (regular contributions, possible policy setting, and monitoring investment returns) would be preferable to repeated one‑off transfers.
- OPEB interplay: Finance said other post‑employment benefits (OPEB) were well funded (about 120% per recent actuarial work) and that the county deliberately paused new OPEB deposits in recent years to prioritize pension funding.

Next steps: Finance will provide a follow‑up actuarial update when available and will supply the council the detailed actuarial reports and funding history. The administration said it will consider whether a formal funding policy (statutory or administrative) should be recommended in future budget cycles.

","Finance staff told the council the county put additional FY25 savings into the pension to raise funded ratio to about 73% and recommended predictable annual contributions and continued monitoring of actuarial assumptions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6655097,"Wicomico council hears warnings on landfill capacity, plans ban on out‑of‑county trash as Cell 7 work accelerates",3340,6335000,9675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5421968-1800277c633636b1d458ebbe0e9e0a43&start=6335&end=9675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5421968-1800277c633636b1d458ebbe0e9e0a43/thumbnail_6335000.jpg","/articles/6655097/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Wicomico-council-hears-warnings-on-landfill-capacity-plans-ban-on-outofcounty-trash-as-Cell-7-work-accelerates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655097-10f9056187561b8bd6d926df9fb72ba3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114193&Signature=i7qMzKtys-kof1vlWe6QlCTU~yEvmCm5zkj7Yd9W7Ib2WrW9uNZv1w0U2X9oZqYal~rXFgLcvIaPx7kg8wuqy5x1w6ZYNg-1ivYcH~RWgMDRN600nGJDwjiyXmpY8VneXqfcX6STs5wsSZAobcdMV3SXDoj0qrU4T4y-CVefItXzjP3YbnoRQ0EkHcYK3JChpb9Fmhe2fv6ov~DfNfC4d~6LVwMh48WCz3gIaDS6nMJqSakQFA99Wqns5IcZi9NokCAxCcV-xwPRLtRzV0DGVvvU89j8WbP-xmQHAV1rDsDMtbgHle1xC7bcfl8xLTEcMntmzb4UZTR8qWkhRmKmsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wicomico County officials told the County Council on July 15 that the Newland Park landfill is filling faster than earlier surveys indicated and urged rapid action to extend capacity while the council considers an ordinance to bar out‑of‑county trash.

County landfill staff and outside engineers described recent aerial surveys and on‑site measurements showing steep increases in annual tonnage and limited remaining airspace. Acting landfill superintendent Adam Corey said crews are working multiple operational fixes while preparing to construct Cell 7, and that day‑to‑day operations now require splitting staff and equipment across multiple tasks: “we're effectively splitting our crew in half if not into thirds almost every day of the week,” Corey said.

The council and staff framed two near‑term responses. First, staff has proposed restricting acceptance of commercial haulers’ loads that contain waste generated outside Wicomico County. Second, the county is advancing the design and permitting for Cell 7 and exploring a horizontal expansion across adjacent county parcels. Department of Law and outside consultant EA Engineering described how changes to the county’s refuse disposal permit, state approvals and stormwater controls factor into the schedule.

Why it matters: County engineers and finance staff said available operating revenues and the landfill’s fund balance do not cover the scale of capital work needed for new cell construction without borrowing. That makes the remaining airspace and the mix of local vs. out‑of‑county tonnage central to both operations and finances. Finance deputy director Charles Schmeickel told council that limited past increases to the tipping fee and a jump in tonnage had left the solid‑waste fund unable to self‑finance future cell construction.

What officials told the council
- Operations and capacity: Consultant EA Engineering reported an updated volumetric analysis based on two recent aerial surveys (including March 2025) and on‑site checks. That work showed substantially less remaining permitted airspace in some benches than earlier estimates had suggested.
- Timing for Cell 7: Staff presented a near‑final (about 60 percent) design for Cell 7, with geotechnical drilling and revised sump placement completed to limit excavation of historic fill and overburden. County staff said they expect to finish the 90–100 percent design work within about 60 days and then submit construction drawings to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for review; MDE review periods may add time.
- Temporary operational measures: To extend working life while Cell 7 is built, staff have begun redirecting haul roads and filling permitted saddles where practical. Those operational moves are possible but slower in wet weather and require additional crew time.
- Tonnage drivers and enforcement: Staff reported frequent full truckloads from neighboring jurisdictions and from out‑of‑county haulers. Council and staff discussed codifying a prohibition on out‑of‑county municipal solid waste and an enforcement regime that would allow the department to suspend a commercial hauler’s access for repeated violations.

Council and legal considerations Councilmembers and staff discussed penalties and enforcement steps. The current draft ordinance under consideration would classify violations as civil infractions and create an administrative suspension regime for commercial haulers (first suspension short, escalating to longer suspensions and eventual prohibition for repeated violations). Legal counsel and administration agreed that the county cannot change the landfill’s permitted hours beyond what MDE allows; proposed local code language would focus on access and penalties rather than altering state permit obligations.

Finance and contingency Council deputy finance director Charles Schmeickel emphasized the financial constraints: historically low tipping fees followed by a sharp rise in tonnage mean the solid‑waste enterprise lacks a reliable sinking fund for cell construction. Schmeickel recommended predictable, incremental tipping‑fee increases and setting aside an annual target for future cell construction and capital replacement to avoid recurring bond financing.

What happens next The council asked staff to refine an ordinance banning out‑of‑county municipal solid waste, to propose a feasible enforcement and notice procedure, and to return with a more detailed cash‑flow and tipping‑fee scenario that shows the impact if out‑of‑county tonnage drops. Staff also committed to advancing Cell 7 design to 100 percent and to coordinate permitting and stormwater work with MDE to shorten approval time.

Ending note The council did not take a final vote on an ordinance during the session; councilmembers and staff said they will continue collaborative work sessions and community briefings while advancing permitting and enforcement plans.

","Council members, county staff and outside engineers described an unexpectedly rapid fill rate at Newland Park landfill, outlined a timetable for building Cell 7 and proposed an ordinance to bar waste from outside Wicomico County to preserve remaining capacity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Council approves decal rules, multiple budget and procurement resolutions; several items pass unanimously

Council approves $94,968 grant to Lead for Life after questions about vendor listings and oversight

County finance details $1.5M end‑of‑year transfer to pension fund; officials urge steady annual contributions

Wicomico council hears warnings on landfill capacity, plans ban on out‑of‑county trash as Cell 7 work accelerates