News Flash

The June 25th meeting started at 5:00 p.m. with a closed session for Boards and Commissions and Consult with Counsel. Commissioner Dumenil was absent for this meeting.

Boards and Commissions

1. Personnel Board - The Board unanimously agreed to reappoint Judy Corchiarino to the Personnel Board. This term will expire 6/30/2028. The Board also agreed to appoint Yvonne Wright Carter. This term will expire 12/31/2026.
2. Department of Emergency Services Advisory Council – The Board unanimously agreed to reappoint Steve Pringle to the Department of Emergency Services Advisory Council. This term will begin on 7/1/2024 and expire on 6/30/2026.

LEGISLATION

1. Southern Kent Island Sanitary Project – Water Softener County Ordinance #24-12 – Request for Introduction & Public Hearing If adopted, this ordinance would prohibit the discharge of water softener brine backwash into the sewer system serving the SKI subdistrict. The introduced brine inhibits the natural biologic processes in the STEP tank’s solids chamber that induces ‘stratification’ of the waste into a scum layer (that floats), a grit layer (that settles to the bottom), and a clear liquid layer in between that passes through the tank’s baffle to be pumped to the wastewater treatment plant. Without this clear layer of water being formed, the pump’s filters, the pump, and eventually the collection mains, become clogged. Failure to address this issue yields to more service calls and raises the potential of back-ups resulting in property damage. The ordinance was shared with the Plumbing Board and received no substantive comments either for or against. The Board unanimously agreed (4-0) to introduce this ordinance and schedule a public hearing.
2. Public Hearing -- County Ordinance #24-11 Unpaid Property Tax AN ACT CONCERNING Interest on Unpaid Property Tax; FOR THE PURPOSE of establishing the interest to be charged on unpaid property tax in Queen Anne’s County. BY ADDING Section 5-2.1 to the Code of Public Local Laws of Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. ADOPTED 4-0

PRESENTATIONS

I. Bloomfield Farm – Historic Preservation Plan Mr. Steve Chandlee, Director of Parks and Recreation and Barton Ross and Associates presented to the board the Bloomfield Farm Historic Preservation Plan Study Results.

II. Ferry Point Update Mr. Steve Chandlee, Director of Parks and Recreation and Ms. Beryl Eismeier, Project Manager of Parks and Recreation presented to the board the Ferry Point Habitat Enhancement Project Redesign update and reviewed the following:

Adaptive management initiative through DNR: • Site evaluations w/DNR • FY24 grant received in September for redesign • Design 60% & under Critical Area review • FY25 grant application December ($500 project)

Also submitted to the board for approval and execution was an extension document for a Coastal Resiliency Program Capital Project Grant Agreement with DNR in the amount of $25,750. This grant was awarded, and the original grant agreement entered into, last September 2023.

DNR has agreed to an extension that provides for six additional months (through December 2024) to finish the redesign project which is currently at 60% completion and in the midst of review by the Critical Area Commission. The project will result in slope stabilization and habitat enhancement plans and permits to armor 200 feet of shoreline at Ferry Point Park alongside nature-based designs including tree planting and refurbishing the existing natural-surface trail there. APPROVED 4-0

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

1. Ameresco Solar Project Aggregate Net Metering Program Credit Purchase Agreement A representative from Ameresco presented a proposal at the May 28, 2024 Commissioner’s meeting to participate in an aggregate net metering (ANEM) program for a 2Mw solar array to be constructed in Cecil County. The power from the array will be applied to 68 County accounts and will generate a 10% savings in all ‘volumetric’ fees (i.e. anything sold on a kWh basis). This proposal is estimated to save the County $35,000 to $40,000 per year. This proposal was vetted in general terms by our energy consultant working with the Eastern Shore of Maryland Education Consortium who shops out the County’s electricity supply. The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the process and all three documents. APPROVED 4-0
2. Crumpton Building Renovation – State of Maryland Capital Projects Grant Agreement The Maryland General Assembly has authorized grant funding in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) to support renovation of the Crumpton Building, an existing unused former school building located south of Crumpton, for the purpose of serving the Pure Hearts Foundation as a recreational and educational facility for children and adults with special needs. To receive the grant assistance, the County must enter into two (2) Capital Projects Grant Agreements with the State Board of Public Works (BPW). The grant award is consistent with approved FY24 budget authority and supplements an additional $150,000 in local funding via the approved FY24 and FY25 capital budgets. APPROVED 4-0
3. FY2025 Shrewsbury Farm Lane and Upland Lane Rehabilitation Projects The Roads Division recommended awarding the Shrewsbury Farm Lane and Upland Lane Rehabilitation Projects to David A. Bramble, Inc, of Chestertown MD in the amount of $767,302, via the existing Wicomico County Rehabilitate Piedmont Employee Parking Lots Contract. Both Shrewsbury Farm Lane and Upland Lane were constructed in the late 2000’s and have had significant road base/surface failures. Typically, this issue can be resolved with road base repairs and/or bridging with hot-mix-asphalt however due to the extent of the failures, Hynes and Associates was contracted to be complete a geotechnical analysis with recommendations. The recommended method to rehabilitate the respective roadways is for full depth reclamation, soil cement and resurface with hot-mix-asphalt. Currently there is adequate funding available in the FY2025 Asphalt Overlay Project Capital Budget. APPROVED 4-0
4. FY2025 Slurry Seal Resurfacing Program The Roads Division recommended awarding the FY2025 Slurry Seal Resurfacing Program to Slurry Pavers, Inc., of Richmond, using the existing Cecil County Contract# IFB B-23-16. A total of 12.89 miles of roadways has been programmed to be resurfaced with slurry seal as part of the FY2025 Resurfacing Program. Total estimated cost to complete the slurry seal resurfacing is $485,490. Currently there is adequate funding available in the FY2025 Asphalt Overlay Project Capital Budget. APPROVED 4-0
5. Southern Kent Island Sanitary Project – Phase 3 MDE Loan Resolution – Authorization to Incur Debt A second Resolution was prepared by the County’s bond counsel, McKennon, Shelton & Henn LLP, to enable the Sanitary District incur debt up to $12,030,189 to fund the eligible costs associated with serving Phase 3 of the SKI project with County sewer (Kentmorr & Queen Anne Colony Subdivisions). Attached to the Resolution is a draft Loan Agreement. The Loan Agreement will be finalized by MDE at the time of loan closing. Once MDE receives this Resolution, and other submittals prepared by staff, MDE will schedule the loan closing with bond counsel and the Sanitary District will be able to seek reimbursement for funds already expended. The project is well underway with the community mains 100% completed last year and the STEP tanks’ installation being initiated in January. Approximately 50 have been installed in Kentmorr to date. The Resolution has been reviewed by the County Attorney. APPROVED 4-0

ACTION ITEMS

1. Executive Summary of Proposed Queen Anne’s County – Talkie Cable Franchise Agreement We have negotiated a proposed Cable Television Franchise Agreement (“Agreement”) with Talkie Communications, Inc. (“Talkie”). As a wired internet provider that offers video services and uses the County’s public rights-of-way, Talkie is a “cable operator” under federal law. As such, it must obtain a cable franchise from the County. The Agreement provides the County with the benefits and legal protections permitted under law while at the same time enabling Talkie to compete in the Queen Anne’s County marketplace. In addition, the Agreement is designed to provide Talkie with competitive equity with the two other cable operators in the County, namely the incumbent cable operator, Breezeline, and the new and recently-franchised competitive cable operator, Comcast. We believe that the Agreement achieves the proper balance among the three franchises to ensure that all three providers can engage in fair and effective competition. APPROVED 4-0
2. MACo Dues FY2025 Our participation and support have built a strong and vibrant organization that achieves many legislative victories for county governments. Executive Director Michael Sanderson summarized some of MACo’s successes over the past year and has graciously thanked us for the support we have collectively provided to the Association. Our FY 2025 MACo dues remain at $15,113.00 annually (which have been constant now for 15 years). APPROVED 4-0

1. FY2025 Impact Fee Schedule On July 1 of each year, the amount of the residential development impact fee is automatically adjusted to account for inflationary increases in construction costs. Section 18:3-6.B(1) establishes the utilization of the most recent twenty-city annual national average data from the Engineering News Record Construction Cost Index for this inflationary adjustment. This year the increase is 1.5% which continues to mark a return to the more traditional, pre-pandemic numbers. This increase is automatic each year; however, the County Code allows the Commissioners to waive the inflation adjustment for any given fiscal year retaining the existing fee schedule. Last year, the inflationary adjustment was 1.8%, and the Commissioners unanimously voted to keep fees flat at 0% increase. During the 2023 Legislative Session, the County put forward legislation to amend the Local Government Finance title as relates to taxes and development impact fees by adding language to authorize the use of revenue from development impact fees to finance the capital costs for replacement, maintenance, or expansion of public works, improvements, or public facilities in all code counties. While not successful, the County will pursue a localized piece of legislation with our delegation during the next legislative session. The result of this piece of legislation will guide and finalize the update to County Code Development Impact Fees. As a result of the need to pursue a legislative addition to the Local Government Finance title and to then finalize the update of the Development Impact Fees, staff is again recommending to keep fees flat at a 0% increase until the result of the actions outlined above may be considered. APPROVED 4-0

2. Broadband – Long Driveway Program The County is the recipient of an award of $1.1M from the State’s Difficult to Serve Properties Grant to assist with the expansion of networks using the County’s Long Driveway Grant Program. In order to align with the state grant as well as update the program with more current information some minor revisions to the Long Driveway Grant Program have been proposed. These include: • The date for completion of service drops changed from June 30, 2025 to December 31, 2025. • The options for applying changed from only being able to go to a website to being able to call or email as well. • Regarding a Hardship Waiver, the Affordable Connectivity Program that provided discounts to citizens via a Federal grant is no longer funded. Moving forward, the County will consider those qualified for the Lifeline Support program to be applicable for the waiver. APPROVED 4-0
3. Memorandum of Understanding – Mid Shore Regional Counties and Maryland Environmental Service – Solid Waste Disposal. The Mid Shore Regional Counties in conjunction with Maryland Environmental Service (MES) have successfully concluded negotiations to extend the in-service life of the Mid Shore II Regional Landfill (MS II) situated in Caroline County through 2042. MES will provide Caroline County a host fee for each ton of residential and commercial waste accepted at MS II. From July 1, 2024, through December 31, 2030, the host fee will be $3.00 per ton. From January 1, 2031, through the date MS II stops accepting waste, the host fee will be $6.00 per ton. The Memorandum also requires each County to designate an individual as the contractual representative with full authority to give and receive any notice or other communication required by this Memorandum or take any action in regard to the interest of their respective County under this Memorandum. It is anticipated that each of the MidShore Counties will be approving this MOU on June 25th as drafted. The County Attorney has reviewed the document for legal sufficiency. APPROVED 4-0

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1. Thank you card – Charlie Rhodes
2. Thank you card Willis Family
3. Planning and Zoning Annual Report
4. QAC Affordability Commission Letter – State Roads Maintenance Condition
5. Planning & Zoning Monthly Report May 2024

Or you can watch the meeting here https://www.youtube.com/live/HZys4fnEZBs?si=IdAc76PcN_mHpHpU