News Flash

Todd Mohn’s Wrap Up of the October 25^th County Commissioner Meeting

The Commissioner’s October 25th meeting started at 3:00 with the 2022 Annual MDOT Tour for a presentation of the FY 2023-2028 Consolidated Transportation Plan. Then at 5:00 p.m. a closed session was held for Boards and Commissions and Personnel.   

The regular meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm.

Administrative Charging Committee Appointments                    

A motion was made to appoint Jane Vezeris and Tomas Beery to serve on the Administrative Charging Committee. APPROVED 5-0

Zoning Board of Appeals Appointment                 

A motion was made to reappointed Michael Lesniowski as a member, Scott MacGlashan as an alternate and Patty Kunz as a second (temporary) alternate to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals until December 31, 2025. APPROVED 5-0

 Ethics Commission Appointments                          

A motion was made to reappointed Valerie Hirsch and Kaarin Salisbury to serve on the Ethics Commission until December 31, 2027. APPROVED 5-0

Plumbing and HVAC Board                 

A motion was made to reappointed Robby Pardoe and Zeke Warner to serve on the Plumbing and HVAC until December 31, 2025. APPROVED 5-0

ACTION ITEMS

COMMISSIONER MORAN READ THE PROCLAMATION 

The Board of Public Works awarded funding for the Foreman Branch Rural Legacy Area on October 21, 2020. These funds have been utilized for easement acquisitions and Bernard and William Davis are one of the two properties selected to preserve. The 67.575 -acre property is located within the Foreman Branch Rural Legacy area and will enhance the existing area of preserved lands. The attached Deed of Easement is between the State of Maryland, Queen Anne’s County and the Davis’ agreeing to preserve their property. No county funds were used in the preservation of the property. Staff recommends execution of the rural legacy deed of easement for Bernard A. and William B. Davis.  APPROVED 5-0

3.  Rural Legacy Grant Agreement – Foreman Branch               

On October 12, 2022 the Maryland Board of Public Works approved $1,307,452 of funding for the Foreman Branch Rural Legacy Area. The funding approved will enable the County to preserve, in perpetuity, approximately 234 acres of prime waterfront agricultural land, woodland, environmentally sensitive areas, natural habitats and protect environmentally significant tributaries of the Upper Chester River.The attached grant agreement is between the State of Maryland-Department of Natural Resources and Queen Anne’s County agreeing to preserve lands in this key area. Staff Recommends execution of the Foreman Branch Rural Legacy Grant Agreement for $1,307,452.  No county funds are required.  APPROVED 5-0

4.  Maryland Transit Administration Operating Grant Agreement FY23

This is MTA Operating Grant Agreement packet for FY 2023. Signing these documents
informs MTA that Queen Anne’s County accepts the Federal and State funding to support transit services for County Ride (the Locally Owned Transit System of Queen Anne’s County). The FY23 operating federal and state allocations continue to support the necessary budget and county dollars will also be decreased this year due to CRRSA Funding for the transit programs. County Attorney, Patrick Thompson, has reviewed and signed the documents. APPROVED 5-0

5.  FY23 Department Parks and Recreation Fireworks Contract                       

Due to an increase in price for shipping cost from overseas, domestic shipping cost, increased transportation cost and insurance, we are providing two options for the July 4^th 2023 Fireworks Celebration. Option One is for 881 shells for $35,000. Option Two is for 1510 shells for $50,000 (option two is the same shells count as 2022 fireworks).  APPROVED 5-0 OPTION 2

6.  Upper Shore Regional Council Operating Budget for FY2023

This is the invoice for the County’s annual contribution to the USRC’s FY23 operating budget in the amount of $12,000. APPROVED 5-0

7.  Update of Fee Schedule for Development Review

Currently, the Department of Public Works and Department of Planning &Zoning fee schedule does not specify review fees for amendments to subdivisions, site plans, or engineering plans. Therefore, DPW and DPZ are requesting an update to the fee schedule in order to establish consistency amongst fees for amendments and new submittals. Staff recommends that updated fee schedule be adopted as presented, specifically to add review fees of $250 for amendments to subdivisions, site plans, and engineering plans. APPROVED 5-0

8.  Proposed Budget Calendar FY24                                     

Attached for your consideration and approval is the FY2024 Budget Calendar. General guidelines for the FY2024 budget will appear in the Spending Affordability Report in January.
The County Administrator’s budget is to be released on March 28, 2023, with Commissioner work sessions in late March and April. The Commissioner’s Proposed Budget is to be released on May 3, 2023, with public hearings in late May. Budget adoption is set for June 13, 2023. APPROVED 5-0

9.  Proposed Amendment to Alcoholic Beverages Article 27-1402 

This is a request from the Queen Anne’s County Board of License Commissioners
 (Liquor Board) to amend Alcoholic Beverages Article 27-1402 of the Annotated Code of Maryland as follows: 

               27-1402 County residency not required - An applicant for an alcoholic beverage license is not required to be a resident of Queen Anne’s County.

 The Liquor Board held a hearing at their October meeting and there were no comments. Mr.
 Thompson, Esquire noted that the reason the Board is doing this is because of the Tennessee
Wholesale Wine Supreme Court case. The Board is making a technical correction to comply with the Supreme Court case that says you can’t discriminate. This was not the result of a citizen request. APPROVED 5-0 to send to the General Assembly 

10. Budget Amendment #CC19 – BOE Kent Island High School HVAC and General Capitol                                                                                                                    

The first part of this amendment will establish additional budget authority in Project 70289, BOE -Kent Island High School Chiller. The project is now complete and will be closed out, however, the project is currently overbudget by $33,381. Funding is derived from existing general capital fund balance. The second part of this amendment transfers $750,000 from budgeted paygo to general capital projects. Three BOE projects were closed in FY22 as part of the BOE restructuring their capital projects to operating. APPROVED 5-0

11. Budget Amendment #CC25 – Emergency Rental Assistance            

This amendment is for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds, of which $622,834 is currently available. The current budget authority is $308,306. Therefore, an additional $314,528 of budget authority is required to match the grant award. No additional County funds are requested.  APPROVED 5-0

12.  Budget Amendment #CC26 – BOE Sudlersville Elementary HVAC 

This amendment will transfer budget authority in the amount of $64,962 from Board of Education project 70325, Sudlersville Elementary School Fire Alarm to Board of Education project 70323, Sudlersville Elementary School Chiller Replacement. This amendment is necessary due to project 70323 coming in over budget. There is adequate budget authority available in Project 70325 to complete the fire alarm and also cover the anticipated deficit in the chiller project. No additional County funds are being requested.  APPROVED 5-0

13.  Budget Amendment #CC27 – Community Partnerships Community Support

Request to amend budget by $55,615 in both revenue and expenses to match funding provided by the State for FY23 for the Community Support grant.  APPROVED 5-0

14. Budget Amendment #CC28 – Community Partnerships Admin 

Request to amend budget by $12,716 in both revenue and expenses to match funding provided by the State for FY23.   APPROVED 5-0

15.  Budget Amendment #CC29 Community Partnerships Transportation Voucher Program  

Request to amend budget by $15,091 in both revenue and expenses to match funding provided by state operating revenue for FY23. The current state grant budget is $30,378 and the final award is $45,469. No additional County funds are requested.  APPROVED 5-0

DESK ITEM This is a letter from Clay Washington requesting support from the Commissioners for a grant from Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area.  The grant application is due 10/31.    The Kennard Alumni Association is seeking grant funding for the furtherance of its mission to chronicle African American history in Queen Anne’s County.  This funding will provide much needed visual and audio exhibits that tell the stories of how local African Americans worked, socialized, were educated, and how they served to protect this nation.  APPROVED 5-0

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1. Thank you letter from Mid Shore Community Foundation 
2. Thank you letter Sudlersville Community Betterment Club  
3. QAC Plumbing/HVAC Board Minutes August 25, 2022    
4. Water and Science Administration – Notice of Application Received for State Permit 
5. Planning and Zoning Monthly Department Report – September 2022 

PRESENTATIONS

1. 2022 Annual MDOT Tour – FY2023-2028 Consolidated Transportation Plan

2. Ms. Heather Tinelli Director, Economic & Tourism Development – Economic Development Week Proclamation    COMMISSIONER J. WILSON READ THE PROCLAMATION                           

3. Mr. Scott Haas, Director of Emergency Services – Departmental Update 

4. Mr. Steve Chandlee, Director Parks and Recreation – Departmental Update

Or watch the meeting here https://youtu.be/ztrVjIbYvEE