The January 28th regular meeting started at 5:00 p.m. with a closed session for personnel and contract.
The Regular meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm. Commissioner Phil Dumenil was unable to attend this week.
Employee Voluntary Deferred Comp Benefit Review - The County offers employees a voluntary 457(b) deferred compensation benefit as a supplement to their state retirement and social security benefits. Currently there are three vendors; VALIC, Nationwide and ICMA-RC. Bolton Investment, an independent retirement plan consulting firm specializing in 457(b) plans, was retained to conduct a high-level review of the 457(b) program. An RFP was developed to solicit 457(b) plan providers so we could determine if a better option was available for employees. Bolton and a staff committee reviewed the materials and has recommended “Voya” as the sole provider for Queen Anne’s County’s 457(b) plan going forward. Voya has lower admin fees, better target investment funds and a more user friendly interface. The Staff Committee along with the Employee Communications and Morale Committee recommended to appoint Voya as the sole provider for the 457(b) plan, the reimbursement of transfer fees to the former plan providers and for the Department of Human Resources to establish the proper governance oversight for the new 457(b) plan. Approved 4-0
ACTION
Item #
Kathi L. Coombes Minor Subdivision Amended Open Space Easement - This is an Amended Deed of Open Space Easement to restrict 29.773± ac. supporting the previously subdivided Lot 3 as part of a Large Lot and Cluster Subdivision of the lands of Kathi L. Coombes intended to be recorded among the plat records of Queen Anne’s County. Approved 4-0
Employee Standard Operating Policy Updates - This is a request to approve the updated Drug and Alcohol Testing Policies for FMCSA and FTA , the Commercial Driver’s License Practices policy and the Risk Management/Safety Manual. These updated policies will go into effect in seven business days (following adoption). Approved 4-0
Commercial Real Property Tax Credit for Queenstown Assisted Living - This is a request to approve a Commercial Real Property Tax Credit for the Queenstown Assisted Living project located on property owned by SHA Grasonville, LLC at 120 Shore Way Drive. The Commissioners have authority to grant a real property tax credit for businesses that make significant improvements to increase the fair market value of a Property by $25,000 and create twelve (12) new full-time positions within thirty-six (36) months of construction. The project will be built in two phases. Phase 1 consists of fifty-one (51) units with a total square footage of 43,373. Phase II is an additional 24,000 square feet consisting of twenty-four (24) units. Phase 1 has an estimated cost of $16.5 million and is proposing to create twenty (20) new full-time jobs. Approved 4-0
Bulle Rock/Grove Creek Broadband Pilot Project - This is a request to approve the recommendation of County staff to partner with Atlantic Broadband to provide broadband to the Grove Creek/Bulle Rock community (31 homes). Originally the Governor’s Office of Rural Broadband offered $100k in grant funding which was insufficient to make this project affordable on a per unit basis. The State is now offering $200k in grant funding to close the funding gap. Atlantic Broadband will be contributing $72k and will own the new infrastructure. County funding in the amount of $40k is available for allocation towards the effort in the IT Fiber project. The additional grant funding reduces the County’s contribution per household from $4,516 to $1,291. Approved 4-0
INFORMATIONAL/CORRESPONDENCE
Item #
US Army Corps of Engineers 2021 projects to be considered
MDH&CD - 2020 CDBG funds approved
MDE – Notice of Application Received for State Permit
Permit to Appropriate & Use Waters of the state notice
P&Z Monthly Department Report – November 2019
P&Z Monthly Department Report – December 2019
PRESENTATIONS
Item #
I. FEC Swearing-in
II. Adoption of the QAC Transportation Development Plan - Cathy Willis
Approved 4-0
III. Jim Hynson Award for 31 years of Service at the QAC Housing Authority
IV. E & B Automotive & Miltec Years of Service Proclamation
V. Work session - Alcoholic Beverages Article Section 27-1403 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland - Motion to exclude the incorporated towns from the 15% percent Stock ownership requirement for Class B Liquor Licenses and to send the request to the State Delegation Approved 3-1
VI. Rural Legacy Grant Agreement & MALPF Matching Funds Program – Donna Landis-Smith Approved 4-0
VII. Comprehensive Plan Update – Mike Wisnosky
LEGISLATIVE
Public Hearing 5:50pm
County Ordinance 20-01 - PUBLIC FACILITIES BOND AUTHORIZATION OF 2020
This bill will authorize the County to borrow up to $9.5 million for the public purpose of financing or refinancing Public Facilities. This could include the Detention Center project, approved BOE projects, asphalt overlays, DES facilities etc. Record Left Open for 2-weeks
Available to be voted on
County Ordinance 19-17 - The expansion of a use and/or tenant space in a structure which occupies more than 65,000 square feet of gross floor area in the Urban Commercial Zoning District Density and Intensity Requirements in Queen Anne’s County – This will allow potential floor area expansion of the vacant Kmart building on Kent Island by up to 50%. Approved 4-0
County Ordinance 19-18 – Revisions to Chapter 22 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Queen Anne’s County (Parks and Recreation) - This is for general updates of Chapter 22 Parks and Recreation. Approved 4-0
County Ordinance 19-19 - Holiday Leave for County Employees - This will allow holiday leave to be scheduled for the Sheriff’s office. Approved 4-0
-Todd.