Present:  Jean Austin, Board Chair; Kerry Ahearn-Brown, Leon Frison, Bill Clark, Nora Becker, Myra Butler, Shakeara Jones, Bill Kerbin, Linda Wilson, Jeff Grafton for Dr. Wheeler.  LMB Staff: Candy Edwards, Executive Director; and Kimberly Crew.

Anticipated Absences:  Ron Fithian, Joe Newell, Sheriff John Price, Pam Kuster, Bill Short.

Other Absences:  Tricia Biles, Chelsie Crouch, Matthew Hash, Lawrence Purnell, Kreigh Kirby.

One community member was present. 

Welcome and Introductions

Approval of Board Meeting Minutes: Board meeting minutes for April 16, 2009 were reviewed and approved.   Bill Clark motioned to approve the April minutes and Linda Wilson seconded the motion.  Motion recommended by all.

Board Committee Reports

• Executive Committee – Met and reviewed the third quarter CPA vendor reports.
• Program Committee – Met with Finance Committee and went over the status of the 3rd quarter vendor reports.  The Program Committee also met and reviewed the Community Enrichment Grants received.
• Finance Committee – Met with the Program Committee to go over the 3rd quarter vendor reports, but has not met as a sole committee.
• Board Development Committee (BDC) – Met on May 12th.  BDC has received a letter of resignation from Board member Rev. Lawrence Purnell. Rev. Purnell has relocated to Salisbury and hopes to become a Board member of the LMB in Salisbury.  The BDC has received a resume from Judy Berry-Barroll.

• The BDC committee also discussed changes to the current LMB by-laws. They would like to decrease the number of Kent County citizens by 2.  Bill Clark addressed to the Board they were already one community member over and when Leon Frison’s term was up, not to fill his position.
• Mr. Clark also went over Board attendance and reminded Board members that attendance should be 75% for each member. If an agency member is unable to attend, then they are asked to send someone in their place. Mr. Clark said they would like to add to youth members that they would be excused from time to time due to prior commitments.  If a voting Board member is unable to attend, they must notify the LMB office immediately to send their proxy.
• Mr. Clark mentioned the BDC had not received any notices of interest for the position of Secretary/Treasurer.
• Due to Kreigh Kirby’s attendance he would not be eligible for promotion to a senior member and the BDC committee would send a letter to the County Commissioners to this fact. The BDC has scheduled the LMB Open House following the June 18th Board meeting.  Mr. Clark mentioned he will contact Board members for finger foods.  The BDC will also be working on a press release as well as submitting an article in the Kent County Newspaper.
• Bill Clark spoke of committee members asking to switch assigned committees.  Mr. Clark asked the Board to submit letters requesting committee changes.  It was also reminded that if a Board member were to serve on the Program/Finance committee they would have to recuse themselves from voting.
• Mr. Clark reminded the Board that if there were anyone they knew who would be interested in serving on the LMB Board to have them submit a letter of interest to the Kent County Commissioners.
• Board chair, Jean Austin, thanked Mr. Clark for all the hard work  the Board Development committee has done this year as well as preparing for the Open House.

Executive Director’s Report
Candy Edwards discussed the FY10 budget cuts with Board members. The Kent County LMB was very fortunate and would only take 11.6% cut from their administrative budget which means they would lose $23,000 plus an additional cut of $2652 for the LCC Specialist position.  This cut means the LMB will lose their Administrative Assistant position.  Ms. Edwards mentioned she has written a letter to the county commissioners requesting their assistance in funding this position and plans to hear their response the second week of June. 

Ms. Edwards mentioned we had anticipated a 20% program cut, however, due to program cuts a couple of years ago, the Kent County LMB would take an 8.3% funding cut towards their programs.  This would mean an estimate of $25,000 would be taken away from programs.  Ms. Edwards also discussed with the Board that the Program and Finance committees met and went over current vendors and they’re 1st and 2nd quarter reports to see where program cuts would go.

• Social Skills Program – is currently being funded $14,721.  This program has had its struggles. Therefore, it was decided that this program would not be funded for FY10.
• Adolescent Parent Support Program – is currently being funded $7,660.  This program has not been as successful as hoped.  The program has only served 4 youth with poor attendance though the vendor has made significant efforts to meet this program positively.
• Maryland Leadership Workshop is currently being funded for a total of 10 students. This program will be cut $1,000 and will only fund 8 students.  It was also decided by the Finance and Program Committees that the remaining budget cuts for program funding would be proportionately distributed throughout the remaining programs.

Ms. Edwards discussed other issues the LMB is experiencing with vendors not abiding by their contracts.  An Ad-Hoc committee was formed with Joe Newell, Kerry Ahearn-Brown and Bill Short to look over current contracts and “tweak the wording” that will inform vendors that funding could be affected if guidelines are not followed accordingly.  Candy Edwards thanked the Board for taking on this commitment.

Ms. Edwards discussed there would be a meeting with vendors on June 3rd to go over budgets and to give vendors the opportunity to continue with their 3 year CPA or RFP out for other funding resources.  Ms. Edwards mentioned that in FY10 there would be another round of budget cuts therefore programs will be kept to higher standards the upcoming fiscal year.

This quarter’s Community Enrichment Grants totaled close to $90,000. Ms. Edwards mentioned some programs were fully funded and some were partially funded.  A letter went out to GOC today, 5/21/09, and will take approximately 30 days or longer before notified of approvals. Ms. Edwards also mentioned that some of the proposals received could not use their money before July 1st, therefore, were not able to be funded.  This would be the last round of Community Enrichment Grants. Ms. Edwards asked the Board to come up with some ideas of how they would like to spend earned reinvestment dollars.  Ms. Edwards also discussed the possibility of forming another Ad-Hoc Committee to see if they would like to have another initiative for one time only projects geared towards helping youth.

Candy Edwards discussed the Post Prom event that occurred on May 16/May 17, 2009.  There were approximately 82 students who showed up with about 54 staying for the auction.  This year’s theme was Mardi Gras. The location of this year’s Post Prom was at the Chester 5 Movie Theater in Chestertown.  There were two movies available, Star Trek & X-Men.  Some other activities were the Old Time Photos and other games for the students to play and earn points for prizes during the auction.  McDonald’s brought breakfast in around 4:00 for all participants.

New Business

Mike Koscinski, SAMSHA (Drug Free Communities), will be at the LMB on June 16, 2009 to do his first site visit of the ASAC program.  They will go over the Rx Drug Roundup with Sheriff John Price, do a press release, talk with coalition members, and would like to invite a news broadcasting agency, such as WBAL and discuss the dangers of teens stealing Rx medications to get high.   During the ASAC meeting on 5/20/09, Sheriff Price went over the medications received at the Rx Drug Roundup sites. These medications will be brought and discussed at the Press Release and later taking to a crematory to be disposed of properly.

The Saddest Song webinar will be held at the Kent County Health Department June 16, 2009 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.  The webinar is located on the 3rd floor conference room.  This webinar is packed with practical advice for parents, teachers and helping professionals.  It provides numerous strategies to help teens effectively cope with adversity, depression, anxiety and stress, and avoid self-injurious behavior.  You can contact Nora Becker @ 410-778-7918.

Nora Becker motioned the meeting be adjourned at 5:30 and Bill Clark seconded the motion.  Motion recommended by all.

The next LMB Board meeting is scheduled for June 18, 2009 @ 4:00 pm.  Also, please remember the LMB will be having its Open House following the Board Meeting.