We began today’s meeting with the Invocation and Pledge, followed by the approval of the Consent Agenda. We then presented a Proclamation for Women’s Equality Day 2022 and numerous commendations for Special Olympics participants and coaches.
Our one main agenda item was approval of the Zoning Text Amendment for Medical Cannabis Facilities. This is in reaction to the facility that was built in Abell and will ensure that there is guidance for any future facilities that could be built in St. Mary’s County. My thought was that we should remove the term “medical” so that it would apply to all cannabis facilities, but the will of the commissioners was to leave the amendment as written and provide further updates in the future.
We then held a Public Hearing for an amendment of Chapter 26 of the Code of St. Mary’s County to provide for an Exemption from the St. Mary’s County Transfer Tax. To summarize, the first $30,000 in purchasing a home is exempt from transfer tax if the home is a principal residence. However, the law, as written, does not allow for this exemption when someone (i.e. a parent) co-signs on the mortgage. In practice this exemption has been allowed, and this amendment will bring the law current with the practice and the original intent. The Transfer Tax is 1%, so this is a savings of $300 for home buyers. We had no one speak at the public hearing.
Moving into County Administrator time, our first item of business was review of upcoming meeting agendas. Second we considered a revised fee schedule that was requested by the Soil Conservation District. Instead of raising fees we allocated their needed $85,000 out of the Commissioner Reserve and asked them to bring the fees back during the budget session. Third we approved a “change of scope” for the Department of Economic Development to allow them to use previously approved funding to hire contract services to help manage The Barns at New Market (the North County Farmer’s Market). Fourth we approved an MOU with the Board of Education for a $334,000 grant from Maryland Office of Broadband that will connect 21 public school student addresses to broadband. Fifth we approved receiving the Childcare Stabilization Fund Grant for $38,915 for the Department of Recreation and Parks to be used for School Age Care programs in our elementary schools. Sixth we approved submitting an online application for $35,000 of additional Childcare Stabilization Fund Grants for School Age Care programs. Seventh we approved Program Open Space applications for John Baggett Park Playground replacement for $300,000 and $25,000 for the development of the 2027 Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan. Eighth we approved two option agreements for property acquisition for the Buck Hewitt Road Phase 4 project for $11,028—the state will pay 80% of this and the county will pay 20%, which equals $2,205.60. Ninth we approved a budget amendment for $140,000 for the Clements Convenience Center Improvement Project to account for additional grading and paving costs. As a point of reference, this project was initially approved in FY19 and estimated at $550,000. With this final amendment, the total cost will be more than double the initial estimate at $1,160,000. Tenth we approved a budget amendment for $335,000 that will fund force protection improvements at the Sheriff’s District 1 Office. Eleventh we approved a lease agreement for Bird Dog Bistro (operated by Blue Wind) for food service at the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport Terminal. Our final item of business was review of the American Rescue Plan grant funding requests and approval of a path forward. I am extremely happy that we were able to realign remaining Middle Mile Broadband Funds to Last Mile projects and allocate the $3,500,000 to Broadband Expansion. This represents an incredible infrastructure commitment in our county and will help us to remain competitive and up to date.
During Commissioner Time I spoke about the Maryland Association of Counties Summer Conference, the visit from our Estonian sister-county, and some upcoming events, including the Ribbons Cutting for our new Animal Shelter and the arrival of the Dove at Historic St. Mary’s City.
We finished the morning in Closed Session to discuss Litigation and Personnel.
