Today we began our meeting with the Invocation and Pledge followed by the approval of the Consent Agenda. The Consent Agenda included a joint Tri-County letter to the Department of Transportation requesting suicide mitigation measures for both the Thomas Johnson (Solomons) Bridge and the Governor Harry Nice (301) Bridge.
Next we presented Proclamations for National Engineers Week and National Developmental Disability Awareness Month. We also presented retirement Commendations to Kenneth Cusic (Sheriff’s Department – 36+ Years) and Harry Knight (Land Use and Growth Management – 27+ Years). Thank you both for your many years of service!
We then entered into a Public Hearing on a Supplemental Appropriation Ordinance of $4,000,000. This is a budget tool that will allow for the potential of previously unplanned grant funds—this is not an authorization to spend more money that the county does not yet have. We had no speakers during the hearing.
Following the Public Hearing we adjourned as the Board of Commissioners and reconvened as the Board of Health for a presentation from Dr. Brewster. She reported that Community Transmission of COVID is still HIGH, but it is rapidly declining, and the Community Level of COVID is LOW, which is helpful in assessing community risk of higher death rates and healthcare system strain. She still recommends wearing masks for certain settings or at risk people, such as congregate care facilities or higher risk of severe disease. We then adjourned as the Board of Health and reconvened as the Board of Commissioners.
Our only Main Agenda item was the approval of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Solar, Major and Solar, Minor. This is the culmination of a lot of work over 2+ years by our Solar Task Force and county government and involved significant community input.
Moving into County Administrator time, our first item was review of upcoming meeting agendas. Second we had a Brief from Robbie Gill on the YMCA plan of action. Third we approved a budget adjustment for the Board of Education for the Food Service Fund for $1,500,000 for funding from the USDA for increased Free and Reduced Meals. Fourth we approved a contract for Asphalt Overlay Services to Aggregate Industries for $2,598,725—this is in line with the county budget ($3,000,000 had been approved for asphalt overlay). Our fifth item was approval of a Legislative Bond Grant Agreement for $150,000 from the state for the concept design of a sports complex.
After that we heard Legislative Updates from our County Attorney’s office. We approved the following Letters of Support:
- SB 830/HB 1228 – Natural Resources – Oysters – Spat Shells and Substrate
- HB 1217 – Natural Resources – Oyster Inspection and Severance Taxes
- HB 1019/SB 838 – Elderly and Handicapped Transportation Service
- HB 1187/SB 726 – Highway User Revenues
- SB 497/HB 592 – Hunting on state land leased by permit holder
- SB 582 – Recreation and Private Land Hunting
- HB 956 – Recreation on Private Land Hunting
- SB 448/HB 685 – Regional Resource Centers and Libraries Funding
- HB 1243 – Rural Nonemergency Medical Transportation Program
- SB 640/HB 1426 – Maintenance of Effort Requirements Alterations
- HB 633/SB 933 – Accountability and Implementation Board Membership
- SB 637/HB 935 Behavioral Health Services
We approved Letters of Opposition to the following bills:
- HB 1068/SB 113 – Sewage Systms Standards, Regulations, Applications, Funding
- HB 831 – Commercial and Residential Buildings Greenhouse Gases
We finished our business meeting with Commissioner Time. I spoke about Women’s History Month and the retirement of Major Diedrich, the Warden at the Detention Center, after an impressive 33+ year career. I also spoke about the Cherry Blossom Festival on March 26th and the war in Ukraine.
We then entered into Closed Session to discuss Litigation and Personnel.
This afternoon we will have a Budget Work Session to follow up on our CIP Budget and discuss the Board of Education request. This evening we will have a Public Hearing at 6:30 pm on the Resolution to Establish the Police Accountability Board and Administrative Charging Committee.
