Today’s meeting started with my leading the Invocation and Pledge followed by the approval of the Consent Agenda. We presented four proclamations: White Cane Day, Red Ribbon Week for the Young Marines, Red Ribbon Week for the Health Department, Red Ribbon Week for the Health Department, and Economic Development Week.
Next we adjourned as the Board of Commissioners and reconvened as the Board of Health for an update from Dr. Brewster and the Health Department. We are still considered in a high transmission rate with vaccines being recommended.
Reconvening as the Board of Commissioners we addressed three Main Agenda items. First, we voted to repeal the Moratorium on Utility Scale Solar Projects. Second we approved a resolution to amend the St. Mary’s County Comprehensive Water and Sewerage Plan for Property on Tap to water category W-3D (this moves it from service in 6-10 years to service in 3-5 years, developer financed). Third we approved holding a morning public hearing to repeal and reenact the St. Marys County Electrical Codes Ordinance to comply with updates in state law.
Moving into County Administrator time, we started by reviewing upcoming meeting agendas. Second we approved a Board of Education request for a FY2022 categorical budget adjustment for $4,501,136 of fund balance–$2,512,987 of this will go to the turf fields at the high schools and the remaining $1,988,149 will go to funding OPEB. There is also $200,000 received as a School Safety Grant for communications upgrades. Third we approved “No Parking” designation along county roads of the South Woods Estate Subdivision at the request of the home owners association. Fifth we approved a letter of support for the transfer of Newtowne Neck Road to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources—this is a section of the road that is gated off by the state so it will be easier for the state to maintain it. Fifth we approved $30,000 in grant funds from the 9-1-1 Board for a 911 Center Manager Certification Training Program. Sixth we approved an application for additional supplemental funding in the amount of $2,000,000 for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Seventh we approved a $16,265 grant from the Maryland Department of Aging to continue online fitness classes and purchase outdoor patio furniture for the Garvey Senior Center. Eighth we approved a $40,832 grant for nutrition activities for our Department of Aging and Human Services—this will provide meals for homebound older adults in our county. Nineth we approved the second notice of grant award for $396,955 for the Older American Act—these grant funds help seniors to continue living in their homes as they age through meal support, caregiver support, preventive health services, transportation, job training and elder abuse prevention. Tenth we approved the FY2022 Area Plan Update Application for the Federal Title III Older Americans Act grant. Eleventh we approved the contract award for FDR Boulevard Phase 3A to the Great Mills Trading Post Company for $8,007,968.98. Twelfth we approved the award of the Sheriff’s Office Evidence Storage and Headquarters Facility Design project to Morgan Design Group, Architects for $751,645. Thirteenth we approved a resolution authorizing use of 2020 bond funds for current projects: Asphalt Overlay, Auditorium Lighting Replacement, and Lexington Park Passive Park. Our last item of business was approval of budget amendments to realign various CIP Projects and increase the FIN22 Capital Reserve by $1,152,682—this is a step taken periodically throughout the year as projects are completed and additional funding remains in the budget, the funds are moved to where they are needed.
After our Commissioner Time (I spoke about the Oyster Festival and the new SMART Building at the University System of Maryland Southern Maryland—ie Third Building at Higher Ed Center), we entered into Closed Session to discuss Litigation. We reentered open session to approve sending letters to the other Maryland counties, Attorney General Brian Frosh, Governor Hogan, Comptroller Franchot and the state Treasurer in regards to the Opioid Litigation. Attorney General Brian Frosh has proposed a plan that would distribute 85% of the opioid litigation settlement funds to the state and 15% to the counties and localities. We are opposed to this because the impacts of the opioid crisis are local impacts and dealt with at a local level—St. Mary’s County (and many other counties and localities) entered into this litigation from the beginning and Attorney General Frosh chose not be involved at the start but is trying to be involved now. The funds would be more efficiently used at a local level, not the state level.
This evening we will have a Public Forum at 6:30 pm. It can be viewed live on the County YouTube Channel or Cable Channel 95—feel free to come out and speak or call in and speak to us.
