Today’s meeting started off with the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance followed by the approval of the Consent Agenda. In addition to the minutes from last week’s meeting, the Consent Agenda included:
1. The list of Emergency Services Board Scholarships for FY22
2. A letter inviting Governor Hogan to the unveiling of the Benjamin Hance Historic Marker at the Old Jail Museum on Monday, November 1st
3. Approval for President Guy’s signature of a Waterway Improvement Fund Grant for $50,000 for the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department for a response raft/rescue boat equipment
4. A letter of support to the Emergency Services Board for the above mentioned grant
5. A letter of support to the Waterway Grant Committee for the above mentioned grant
6. A letter of opposition to the proposed state redistricting plan that would split St. Mary’s County into two State Senate districts
We then presented Proclamations for Constitution Week, Underground Railroad Month and National Senior Center Month. After that our County Attorney presented legislative proposals for our discussion—next week we will vote on whether or not we support these before we present them to our state delegation. The proposals we heard were:
• Authorization to modify the Emergency Services Support Tax
• Authorization to allow Golf Carts on county roads
• Update to the Human Relations Commission duties
• Authorization to increase the Public Accommodations (Hotel) Tax Rate
• Permission for Animal Control Officers to wear Body Worn Cameras
• Authorization to do Polygraph Examinations for Paramedic, EMT and Emergency Communication Center Applicants
• Authorization to allow the auctioneer fees to be the “actual cost” for properties sold at tax sale
• Amendment to the definition of newspaper
• Authorization to set maximum rates for Motor Vehicle Towing and Immobilization on Private Property
• Term Limits for Board of Education members
Just to reiterate, we did not vote on these proposals yet, we just discussed them. Next week we will vote, then they will be presented to our state delegation and they will decide which ones they choose to take forward to Annapolis to change the law.
Moving into County Administrator time, our first item was the review of upcoming meeting agendas. Second we approved five grant agreements between the Health Department and the Sheriff’s Office Detention and Rehabilitation Facility (the jail) for a total of $778,951. These programs include Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes Partnership, the State Opioid Response Medication Assisted Treatment, and Jail Mental Health Services. Third we approved the Board of Educations State Capital Improvements Program for FY2023-FY2028. Fourth we approved the Inmate Medical Services Contract to Prime Care Medical, Inc. for $1,330,000. Fifth we approved the sale of the Bethune school for $350,000. Sixth we approved using $463,888 from the American Rescue Act funding for an Emergency Radio Communications interoperability update. Our final item of business was an update on the St. Mary’s County Animal Shelter construction progress.
This afternoon we will all attend the State of the County presentation hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.
