Board adopts Black History Month proclamation and updates remote-participation policy; broadband BEAD explained

The Caroline County Board of Supervisors proclaimed February 2025 as Black History Month and added a presentation from the Caroline Sunday School Union to the meeting agenda; both items were adopted by motion and recorded in the minutes.

As part of the consent agenda, supervisors approved an updated remote-participation policy that clarifies limits on personal remote participation. The revised policy language included a cap: a member "may not use remote participation due to personal matters more than 2 regular board meetings per calendar year or 25% of the regular board meetings held per calendar year rounded up to the next full number, whichever is greater," according to county staff reading the change into the record. The board approved the consent agenda, including the policy amendment, by voice vote.

On broadband, staff explained the state BEAD-related program that fills gaps for addresses missed by the main grant awards and described a separate state "line extension" program (referred to in the meeting as LEAPAP/line extension) for households where an existing provider would need a long line extension to reach a residence. Staff advised residents to submit broadband inquiries through the county website for assistance navigating the state programs. The board discussed that some drives/addresses that previously had been missed can be served by current grant contractors.

The board also discussed appointments needed for several boards and committees and asked staff to circulate meeting frequency and role descriptions to help recruit candidates.

Ending: The board closed the consent items and moved into discussion items and public comment was opened and closed with no speakers.