Ben D. Adams

The meeting agenda covered numerous items under Construction, A/E Service Contracts, Maintenance Contracts, General Miscellaneous, Real Property Conveyance, and Lease agreements. Key discussions included the award of a construction contract for a 24-Bed Detention Center in Salisbury to Whiting Turner Contracting Co., a modification to a contract for floor slab repairs at the Central Services Building due to extensive structural damage discovered, and the renewal of an agreement for Architectural and Engineering Services for multiple construction projects with fees of $100,000 or less. Other actions involved approving funds transfers to the University System of Maryland for ADA renovations and hazardous material abatement, approving several agricultural preservation easements across multiple counties, and approving new lease agreements for office space for the Maryland Higher Education Commission and classroom/office space for Baltimore City Community College.

The meeting proceedings involved several key agenda items requiring Board consideration and discussion, primarily related to fiscal matters and program management. A revised resolution authorizing the sale of $80,000,000 in State of Maryland bonds was approved. Significant discussion occurred regarding contracts for the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), focusing on the quality of care, property maintenance, and inspection protocols for community-based placements for mentally ill and developmentally disabled individuals. The Board discussed the philosophy of shifting from institutional care to community living, the associated costs, and the challenge of community resistance to new placements. Further discussions covered specialized foster care for emotionally disturbed children, including compensation structures and the need for case history reviews; in-home aide services contracts; and the Medicaid waiver program for DDA clients, which provides federal matching funds for community placements. The Board also addressed the need to maintain quality care in state institutions for the most complex cases and discussed funding for job training positions under the Department of Economic and Employment Development (DEED), noting recent legislative cuts to federal funds for job programs. Finally, the relocation of clients from the Highland Home, whose building requires significant repair, was reviewed.

The Board of Public Works meeting addressed several agenda items across multiple departments. Key discussions included the submission and review of the Procurement Agency Activity Report (PAAR) for February 1988. A significant portion of the agenda involved formal approval of numerous wetlands licenses for projects involving dredging, filling, bulkhead construction, and shoreline armoring across various Maryland counties, with recommendations concurred by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Financial actions included approving a grant request under the Maryland Agricultural Cost-Share Program totaling $124,600.00 and reviewing a shore erosion control project loan levy. The Board also considered the certification of matching funds from Prince George's County for the Prince George's General Hospital and Medical Center Loan of 1986. Contract actions involved approving service contracts under the Department of Budget & Fiscal Planning, including engineering analysis for utility rate-making cases, an integrated computer system for delinquent debt collection, and consulting services for employee/retiree health benefits. Construction contracts for the Department of Transportation included the rehabilitation of overhead doors at the MTA's Bus Facility and the final engineering design for a new interchange on US Route 301/Maryland Route 213. Miscellaneous items included approving settlements from the State Insurance Trust Fund for cases involving claims against State employees in the Public Safety and Correctional Services. Approvals were also sought for expedited search services for a new State Superintendent of Schools.

The meeting agenda covered extensive items across multiple departments. The Department of General Services items included maintenance contracts for janitorial services at 201 West Preston Street and 2100 Guilford Avenue in Baltimore City, a real property conveyance request involving a Release of Right of First Refusal for land in Baltimore County to the Estates of Vernon and Evelyn Mathena, and various lease actions for the Public Defender System, Department of Human Resources, and the Department of Maryland State Police. The agenda also addressed Capital Grants and Loans for entities such as the City of Gaithersburg, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Board of Directors of the Carrie Weedon Science Center Foundation, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, and Govans Economic Management Senate (GEMS). The Secretary's agenda included resolutions authorizing the sale of State of Maryland general obligation bonds totaling $200,000,000 and approval of several wetlands licenses for projects in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City and County. The Department of Transportation agenda included construction contracts and maintenance items.

The meeting covered numerous agenda items across multiple departments. Discussions included a revision to the Circuit Court fee schedule to conform language to repealed statute, the Neighborhood BusinessWorks Loan for RXBSA Properties, LLC, and several Rental Housing Works Loans. Significant debate occurred regarding the high cost per unit for the Perkins Homes Phase I, LLC project, which was explained by the inclusion of contemporary amenities, a community center, and price escalation due to COVID-19 environment factors. The Board also addressed the slow disbursement of federal rental relief funds amid ongoing evictions, requiring DHCD to prepare a detailed presentation on fund allocation and eviction prevention agreements with landlords. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) agenda featured discussions on Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Development Projects and Program Open Space Acquisition. The Lieutenant Governor directed an increase in DNR's construction procurement delegation authority from $50,000 to $100,000 to streamline maintenance projects. Members also emphasized the need for DNR to update program descriptions to reflect statewide, rather than only coastal, resiliency concerns.