Today started off with a reception for our Boards, Commissions, and Committees. We then started the meeting with the Invocation and Pledge, followed by the approval of the Consent Agenda. When then presented a proclamation for Transit Equity Day. After that we held a recognition ceremony for our Boards, Commission, and Committee members – thank you all for being willing to serve!
Next we adjourned as the Board of Commissioners and reconvened as the Board of Health for a presentation from Dr. Brewster. She reported on the status of COVID in St. Mary’s County and on other health related issues for our county. I specifically asked about the drug problem for our county. Since her last report, our COVID Community transmission has decreased from “High” to “Substantial” and our Community Level has remained at “Low”.
We reconvened as the Board of Commissioners and entered into County Administrator time. Our first item was review of upcoming meeting agendas. Second we approved a request from the Circuit Court to increase the budget for juror fees by $60,000 to account for the state increasing the daily fee paid to jurors from $15 to $30—the county will be reimbursed quarterly from the Administrative Office of the Courts for all juror fees expended. Third we approved a lease addendum with the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum to extend the lease to a required 15 years in order for the museum to be able to accept grant funds in order to build a digital sign at the entrance. Fourth we voted to accept a $30,000 grant from Exelon Generation Company, LLC for our Department of Emergency Services—this is a $10,000 increase from previous years and funds are used to ensure training and preparation in the event of an emergency with Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. Fifth we approved the Department of Aging and Human Services FY23 Area Plan Application and accepted various grants for $169,599. There will be $428,453 in Federal Funds, $42,816 of required county matching funds, $33,916 of additional county funds and $25,000 of donations as part of this plan—this all goes to fund various aging programs, such as the Senior Nutrition Project, Guardianship, and the Ombudsman. Sixth we approved the purchase of an 8.09 acre piece of property in Hollywood from the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad for $500,000. The Hollywood Rescue Squad originally purchased this piece of property along southbound 235 in order to build a new facility, but has since decided not to build a building. This property is being purchased with funding from Program Open Space funds from the state and is planned to be used as a trailhead for the Three Notch Trail. Seventh we approved the Shannon Farm Master Plan—Shannon Farm will be a gorgeous park located just south of Gate 3 with beach access and a beautiful trail through the woods to reach the beach. Our final item of County Administrator business was approval of an employment contract for Arthur Shepherd as Director of Recreation and Parks and approval of a Deputy Director position.
We then moved into County Attorney time for a review of Legislation at the state level. We approved letters of support for the following bills:
- HB 28 – Income Tax – Credit for Caregivers of Senior Family Members
- SB 32 – Property Tax – Exemption for Dwellings of Disabled Veterans – Application
- SB 103 – Income Tax – Maryland Residential Solar Investment Tax Credit
- LR 1801 – St. Mary’s County – County Commissioners Election Method – Straw Ballot
We approved a letter of opposition to Delegate Crosby’s HB 447 – Local Elections – County Commissioner – District Voting.
During Commissioner Time I spoke about the upcoming Drive-Thru Frozen Pizza Carryout at the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department on Sunday, 3-5 pm and about our Boards, Committees and Commissions.
We then entered into Closed Session to discuss Real Property and Personnel. We will have an additional Closed Session for Personnel this evening at 5:30 pm and a Public Forum at 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to participate in the Public Forum!
