Today we began our meeting with the Invocation and Pledge followed by the approval of the Consent Agenda.
We then held a Public Hearing for proposed revisions to the St. Mary’s County Ethics Ordinance. The revisions bring our ethics ordinance in line with State law requirements, including new conflict of interest provisions and additional disclosures for State elected officials. We had no one speak at the hearing.
After that we presented a commendation to Cynthia Dyson for her retirement from county government after 33 years. Thank you for your years of service!
Next we approved an amendment to the Solar Ordinance that will allow for Solar, Major facilities in the Rural Preservation District if they are limited to brownfields or the landfill. I am convinced that this is a good balance that meets the original intent of the Solar Task Force to place Solar, Major facilities on locations that can not be used for other purposes while still protecting farm and forest land.
Moving into County Administrator time, our first item of business was review of upcoming meeting agendas. Second we approved the FY2023 Agreements between the Sheriff’s Office and the Health Department for mental health services. This includes a series of grants totaling $1,177,341 with no county match. Grant programs include the Examine & Treatment Act, Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes Partnership, Five County Project, Maryland Community Criminal Justice Treatment Program, Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, and Jail-Based Medication Assisted Treatment. Third we approved an MOU with ThinkBig Networks LLC allowing them to use county right-of-ways in expanding into St. Mary’s County to provide fiber-to-the-home broadband service. Our final item of business was acceptance of $295,000 of Program Open Space money for John Baggett Park Playground and the Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan.
During Commissioner Time I spoke about some community events and broadband internet in our county. We finished the morning in Closed Session to discuss Personnel.
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
