August 31, 2021 Commissioner Update:
For our last meeting in August we all wore purple—this was done in recognition of National Recovery Month.
We started today’s meeting with my leading in the Invocation and Pledge followed by approval of the Consent Agenda. I then read Proclamations for Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month.
We then adjourned as the Board of Commissioners and reconvened as the Board of Health for a discussion with Dr. Brewster. Also attending was Dr. Michaels from MedStar St. Mary’s. Big takeaways is that the COVID delta variant is still present and spiking in our county and the number one recommendation is to get vaccinated—nothing is 100%, but the majority of new covid cases and severe covid cases are among unvaccinated. Other recommendations include masking in indoor areas, using HEPA filters, opening windows to get fresh air circulation and getting outside whenever possible—getting outside for fresh air is a good practice for general health and wellbeing regardless of COVID.
Reconvening as the Board of Commissioners, we approved a request for a public hearing to Repeal the Moratorium on Utility Scale Solar Projects. (This is an instance of our bureaucracy and policies slowing down the process—it was always understood that we would end the moratorium after the Solar Task Force was complete with their report, I don’t agree with the need for a hearing in order to end what is already a temporary ordinance, but we will schedule and hold a morning hearing to move on with this).
Moving into County Administrator time, we started off by reviewing the agendas for upcoming meetings—there will be no Commissioner meeting next week due to the Labor Day holiday. Second we approved the FY2022 Cooperative Reimbursement Agreement from the MD Department of Human Services for the Child Support Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office for $815,745. Third we approved a loan application for the Metropolitan Commission for $10,389,122 for both water and sewer Capital Improvement Projects. Fourth we approved a lease agreement with the College of Southern Maryland for use of the Wellness and Aquatic Center in the Leonardtown CSM campus—I am excited for this partnership and the benefits it brings to the community, this is a great deal for all involved—the County will not pay any rent but will pay to staff/operate it and residents will be able to make use of the facilities. Our last item of business was approval of a reorganization in the Department of Emergency Services to move the Fire and EMS Recruiting Coordinator from Human Resources to the Department of Emergency Services.
After Commissioner Time we entered into Closed Session to discuss Litigation. We reconvened briefly to approve a motion to grant proxy to our opioid attorney in the Mallinckrodt bankruptcy restructuring plan.
