This morning we started our meeting with the Invocation and Pledge followed by the approval of the Consent Agenda.
Our only Main Agenda item was approval of a Public Hearing on the morning of August 23rd for an update to the wording for the Exemption of Transfer Tax. To summarize, the first $30,000 is exempt from transfer tax if the home is used as a principle residence. The way the code is written, this would not apply in cases where someone (ie a parent) serves as guarantors on the mortgage and are included as grantees on the deed, but already have a separate principle residence. The county has historically honored this exemption and this proposal will update the language of the code to reflect the spirit of the exemption—putting into law what is already done in practice and helping first time home buyers.
Moving into County Administrator time, our first item of business was review of upcoming meeting agendas. Our meeting next week on August 2nd will begin with a Joint Meeting with the leadership of NAS Patuxent River. Second we approved a grant application for the Sheriff’s Office for the FY2022 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for $17,792 to purchase mechanical entry tools (with no required county match). Third we approved a Budget Amendment closing the FIN22 Capital Reserve and rolling the State/Federal authority to the FIN23 Capital Reserve—this is an accounting practice we do every year with the new county fiscal year. Fourth we approved the Transferrable Development Right (TDR) Fee-in-Lieu amount for Fiscal Year 2023 at $4,861.02—this amount is determined by guidance in our Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance that the fee will be set at 120% of the average fair market value for TDRs. Any funds received from these fees is used for agricultural land preservation. Fifth we approved accepting $25,000 of Program Open Space funding for the 2027 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan—this plan is required to be updated every five years. Sixth we approved a MOU with Town Creek Recreation Inc for use of parking and restrooms at the Town Creek Pool. The county is paying a one time fee of $9,000 to help with the restroom management. Seventh we approved an amendment to the Gymnastics Center lease for two additional months to cover August and September. Eighth we approved accepting $540,000 for the DNR Waterway Improvement Grant for the St. Georges Creek Maintenance Dredge—no county match required or needed. The material from the dredge will be used for shoreline restoration projects in the area. Ninth we approved installation of speed humps on Woodlawn Drive in Town Creek. Tenth we approved a Memorandum of Agreement with METCOM for joint procurements for the Southhampton Revitalization Projects. Eleventh we approved a month to month lease agreement with WGS Systems, LLC for office space in the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport Terminal. Our final item of business was approval of an agreement and lease with YMCA of the Chesapeake—the county will own the land and lease it to the YMCA for $1 a year. The previously agreed funding for the building will continue, but if proposed costs exceed the planned amount at the end of the design phase, then the county will revisit the cost sharing agreement to determine whether or not to proceed with the build.
After Commissioner Time, we entered into Closed Session to discuss Real Property. We will reconvene at 1pm this afternoon to accept the Bond Sale Award for $30 million. These bond funds are being used for Roadway and Safety Improvements, Public School Infrastructure Improvements, Salt Storage Facility Replacement and other county projects.
This evening we will reconvene at 6:30 pm for a Public Hearing for a proposed ordinance to amend the Code of St. Mary’s County by adding designations for “Medical Cannibis Growing Facilities.” All are welcome to come and speak on this amendment to our zoning regulations.
