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Commissioners approve consent agenda including animal-board appointments, training contract renewal and small community grants; public commenters press on water
Summary
The board approved a 10-item consent agenda that named new Animal Control Board and Ethics Commission members, renewed an employee-training contract with HSI/ThinkZoom, authorized equipment and maintenance contracts, and approved small community grants; public commenters urged expedited correspondence on a 17% water-rate increase and questioned the HSI training's purpose.
The Allegany County Board of Commissioners approved a 10-item consent agenda that included appointments to boards, contract renewals and small community grants and heard public comments on county training and a pending water-rate increase.
Appointments and contracts: Administrator Bennett reviewed the items and the commission approved them by voice vote. Item E (amended) appointed John Gustafsson, Christina Getty (record also shows Christina Gaddy in the transcript), Linda Steele and Regina Hamm to the Allegany County Animal Control Board, and allowed ex officio members Brian Dickin (health officer designee) and Brett Leisinger (sheriff’s designee) to serve; the amendment authorized Brett Leisinger to serve as chairman for the first year and left one seat open for a local humane-society representative. The commission also approved appointments of Daniel Lessard, Jessica Hook and Ashley Drake to the Allegany County Ethics Commission.
Contracts and equipment: The board approved renewal of the HSI/ThinkZoom online employee-training contract for $22,313 (the renewal runs December–November and Bennett said about half of the cost is covered by CareFirst wellness dollars). The purchase of a double-sided LED sign for the detention center for $17,471 was approved with grant funding from Friends Research Institute. The Department of Emergency Services was authorized to accept scribe preventive-maintenance agreements totaling $113,822 to support EMS medical-equipment inspections and compliance.
Community grants: The commission approved three community-event support items: $100 for the Mountain Ridge High School cross-country program’s event, $500 for the Town of Western Port’s Christmas tree lighting and parade, and $1,000 for the Cumberland Scottish Rite Foundation’s Robert Burns Night.
Public comment on training and water rates: Michael Mutch (consent-agenda commenter) asked whether the HSI training is a DEI program and whether the state mandates it. Bennett and a commissioner replied the program is an online training platform covering harassment prevention, management and wellness topics, is not a state-mandated DEI program and is partly paid for with CareFirst funds. Later public commenter Dr. Larry Smith urged quicker action on correspondence related to a 17% water-rate increase effective Nov. 14 and asked whether the commission could file its support before that date; Bennett said he would call the governor’s office that night and noted Senator McKay’s letter is already on file.
Why it matters: Appointments shape local board governance for animal control and ethics oversight; contract renewals and equipment purchases commit county funds or grant resources; public comment highlighted urgent consumer concerns about a pending rate increase.
Next steps: Staff will fill the remaining Animal Control Board seat and proceed with the approved contracts; Bennett said he will contact the governor’s office regarding the water-rate correspondence and will provide updates to commissioners.
