BOCC 1/28/03

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0968dfc3.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC Meeting Notes 12/3/02 6/30/03"><U><B>BOCC Meeting Notes 12/3/02 - 6/30/03</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=130 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0978dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Welcome to the Web Site of Clare Whitbeck</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Web Site of Clare Whitbec"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC 12/3/02"><U>BOCC 12/3/02</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Legislative Agenda 12/10/02"><U>Legislative Agenda 12/10/02</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id91.htm" TARGET="_top" 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FACE="Arial" ><B>th</B></FONT><B> Anniversary of Tomorrow’s Child</B>.  Mrs. Elward gave the BOCC a booklet which describes the programs, the Young Marines, the Ladies and Gentlemen’s Club, the adolescent families program to help you fathers get a job, and an arts program.  We need to provide options and opportunities for children.  Dr. Hawkins has established the Global Village in Dameron.  There will be a camp for children this summer.  This partnership includes 4H, St. Mary’s College, Global Village, all working together.  Elward said all our children are at risk.  They welcome volunteers.  There is staff to maintain order for volunteers.  Last Friday they were able to provide a workshop for 38 youth to work with professional song writers.  They wrote three songs.  They built a quilt.  There was a dinner, and the children presented their work.  This was done with the love and support of the community.  Dr. Dove-Hawkins said you can see Ms. Elward’s vision which we have joined into.  Tomorrow’s Child has delivered.  It’s important that we support the community centers.  We are supplementing and complementing other programs.  </div> <div> <B>Next was a public hearing on the purchase of automated external defibrillators.  </B>The grant they have received will allow them to purchase 8 defibrillators to be placed in the Sheriff's Depupty's cars..  The record on this hearing will remain open for 10 days.  There will be action in two weeks. </div> <div> <B>The County Administrator was next.  </B>He began with draft agendas.  A budget meeting will be held Monday afternoon at 3:00.  Dr.  Icenhower is ill and they will represent the by-laws changes next week.  Robin Finnacom presented a grant for $58,000 which she wanted the BOCC to approve.  The Maryland Dep’t of Business and Economic Development (DBED).  The purpose is to update a study done in the mid ‘90's. This is the first phase, then there would be a a follow on strategic plan.  This requires a $25,000 matching grant.  Raley questioned Norris about the note.  There is a requirement that the State not pay more than 70% of the grant.  McKay asked who will do the study.  Robin said they will need to bid out the grant.  She said we need a better data base.  There is no First Colony in the data they have.  McKay said the only thing he could see coming out of this study is the need for more infrastructure.  He thinks the free market needs to respond to the changes.  Finnacom said it will provide data as to how many more stores of a specific type are required.  What can we expect for the future?  What kinds of growth would be supported?  McKay said the free market should develop.  Robin said you can look at the potential for UAV manufacture in St. Mary’s County.  Robin argued that there is a wealth of information to be gained.  Lacer said it was a great opportunity to get 70% paid for by the State.  McKay said spending that much money just for Lexington Park . . . all areas of the County could use this study.  Comm Mattingly moved it be adopted, and Raley seconded.  The first study brought to light a lot of information.  Raley said the importance of Lexington Park requires the study.  Additional data would be available to improve Lexington Park.  Raley said there was a lot of debate in the prior Board.  He supports the motion.  McKay he doesn’t want to give the impression that Lexington Park isn’t important.   The vote was 3 - 2 with Jarboe, McKay, and DeMent voting against.  Jon Grimm was asking to be permitted to file an application for grants and they would require $750, $200, and $100 in County funds.  Mattingly moved and Jarboe seconded. to approve these grants.  Jarboe commented we need to preserve the past as we move into the future.  The vote was 5 - 0.  George Erichsen brought a series of public works agreements which were signed.  Three were  approved.  There have been no permits issued in one community and now there are <B>28 ready to be issued</B>, but haven’t been issued yet.  McKay asked about Murray Road.  There is a bend in the road.  There is a causeway which has been protected by stone revetments.  The project cost down went from $125,000 as estimated and cost $90,000.  The pavement is not wide but there is new shoulder.  Because of the shoulder, people may want to park there.   Some residents want a no parking area.  The access of emergency vehicles might be blocked if cars parked on a 6 foot wide shoulder should happen to get onto the pavement.  Guard rails have warrants - steep slopes or protection of vehicles.  Raley said having people park there and go to fish was the problem.  He had people call him.  This is an attempt to fix that.  George Erichsen said he’s not sure if the County or the State owns the new shoulder.  He added that two way traffic is limited.  Leaving the width should would allow people to turn around.  The motion passed.  the vote was 5 - 0.  The next item was the draft resolution establishing the Department of land Use and Growth Management.  The motion was made by Comm Dement, seconded by Jarboe.  The vote was 5 - 0.  The Nursing Center report was next.  92% of their patients come from St. Mary’s County.  Debbie Knott is no longer on the Nursing Center Board and is greatly missed, said the new Board president.  The Administrator said the staff is very stable.  They are a 501C3 corporation.  They have a zero deficiency rating from the State.  They have participated in a study for quality assurance.  They have a nurse-practicioner.  They are a new organization.  They are concerned about the State medicaid budget.  They are strengthening confidentiality of information.  They need a strategic long range plan.  There is a financial report.  Keeping qualified people is a full time job.  McKay asked what non-operating revenue is and was told interest on bank accounts and prior year cost settlements.  They had to absorb the start up costs of a new corporation including legal and accounting fees.  McKay asked if they have a capital improvement plan.  The Administrator said they have a 5 year capital improvement plan.  Comm Raley asked what kind of advertising they do.  Press releases, job recruitment, the brochure for the Nursing Center, etc. The Administrator said President Bush and Governor Ehrlich are interesting in keeping people in their home.  Is that something we should be involved in?  What about dementia care.  How can we best provide that care?  Is there an Alzheimers-cementia care assisted living facility - no.  Should the Nursing Center be involved?  McKay congratulated the new president, and expressed his hope that Debbie Knott will soon be better</div> <div> <B>The next item on the agenda was an update to the Breton Bay Watershed Plan and</B> <B>Restoration Action Strategy update.  </B>The Breton Bay watershed runs from a subdivision on Route 234 to Summerseat, to the airport and from there to Medley’s neck.  Breton Bay is impaired to nitrogen, phosphorous, sediment, and fecal coliform.  The extension goes through the middle of this year.  They have a work group that wrote a characterization report.  The State did the writing, but met with the group on a regular basis.  It looks at the watershed from a County level all the way up to a broader State perspective.  They State walked 178 miles of streams.  They took photos of areas of concern such as erosion or pipe outfalls of unknown origin, lack of buffer, trash dumping, construction that affects the water quality, and fish barriers.  MDE did an analysis of the streams and determined that we have erosion and trash problems, buffer issues (which can be fixed with planting money if owners will allow.  There is very little nutrient concentration is the ground water.  The nutrient problems are supposed to be coming from the river.  Coliform is assumed to come from animals rather than people, although we have had sewage plant overflows.  They have held one community meeting with about 50 people.  They heard the community concerns.  People seem to think that someone is crying wolf, and others believe the problems come from the sewage treatment plants and that doesn’t seem to be the case.  The purpose of the next meeting is to come up with some strategies to improve Breton Bay.  They will also talk with MetCom and Soil Conservation.  Then they will bring the plan to the Planning Commission and finally to the BOCC.  McKay asked if there were a lot of property owners who denied access.  Many of those had the creek as the edge of their property and the person on the other side allowed access.  There were about 20 who refused access.  Comm Mattingly said the one thing he is interested in is that no one be forced to do anything.  He asked if we can address the flooding issue.  Sue said they have discussed flooding.  The Center for Watershed protection says the problem is usually that “everybody has the pipe going to the ditch”.  There will be a big homeowner education component to this work.  The Army Corps of Engineers will look in depth and see what might be done.  The Corps has expanded the St. Mary’s River study to the St. Mary’s County study.  Some people along Maypole Road say the lower end of the McIntosh causes the flooding to be more severe.  Water is backing up into peoples homes.  They are looking for help from the County to address the cause of the flooding.  McKay asked about the fecal coliform and Sue Veith said it was probably a combination.  The Eastern Shore is doing DNA mapping to determine the source.  We hope to be able to work with the Univ. of Md to determine the source of the coliform in Breton Bay.  The fact that there is a strategic plan seems to indicate that there will be some effect on land owners, said McKay  Vieth replied  that they are not going to buy property, but have money for preservation.  One meeting will take place tomorrow night.  The meeting will be on February 26 from 6:30 - 8:30. </div> <div> <B>The next item is the proposed amendment to Article XV, Chapter 267, relating to real property transfer tax.  </B>John Norris came forward.  Norris noted that only one person had commented.  Norris noted that this legislation follows state law.  Raley moved and seconded by Comm Jarboe to approve.  The vote was 5 - 0.  The next item is the proposed release of the easement for property adjacent to the Leonardtown Wharf.  Richard Rohrbaugh noted that the 10 open comment period has passed and they have received no comments.  McKay said it was with some hesitancy he released this access to the water, but Leonardtown asked for this and he will approve.  Mattingly said they have developed good public access at Abell’s Wharf. The town, he said, has a good plan for the wharf and it will add to the Town as well as provide housing.  Mattingly made the motion and Raley seconded it.  Comm Raley said if this motion were to be passed and there is a release of easement, does the County still have liability from the boat ramp.  Norris said they no longer have property or liability.  All signs must be removed.  Rohrbaugh said he will inspect the property.  McKay quipped he would have to get out in the water to look.  Jarboe said this doesn’t provide access for modern boats.  So we have to look at opportunities, particularly on the Patuxent River.  He said he supports the Town.  It was noted that Breton Bay is accessed of McIntosh Creek.  Mattingly said the hope is that this will become a port to visit.  The vote was 5 - 0.</div> <div> <B>Next came Commissioner time.  </B> Comm Dement said we toured the Detention Center and the Sheriff’s Department.  He went to the Ridge Fire Department banquet Friday night.  He thanked Dan Raley for his work as MC.  He has visited the spay neuter clinic for lucky ones.  His wife’s sister had surgery and he sent get well wishes.  He thinks we are closer to getting a permit for the Rescue Squad.  Comm Mattingly congratulated the catholic schools on Catholic School Week.  He also went to the Leonardtown Rescue Squad.  Went to Schaffer’s swearing in.  Congratulations to Wayne Swan’s retirement from SMECO.  Charlotte Young has lost her husband.  Tri County Council in the Annapolis tomorrow.  Comm Jarboe said he received a letter from the Office of the Sheriff.  He said he didn’t recall the BOCC’s approving a new election for members of the Sheriff’s retirement board.  Comm Raley said he didn’t make a joke about McKay until McKay made the first joke.  He congratulated Peanut and Francis and wished John Morrison well.  James Raley has given 50 years of service to Ridge.  He asked Lacer about a letter for HUD regarding the mortgage limit.  We asked for $223,000.  They raised it to $166,000.  He wants to know why.  There is a public hearing at 6:30 at the new building of the Higher Education Center.  Next Tuesday there will be a public hearing on the new Cable Franchise Ordinance as well as the Cable Franchise Agreement.  It’s on the web, he added.  He said he had heard comments about the relationship between commissioners and staff.  He wants to make staff feel comfortable and wanted them to know that rejection of their proposals may happen.  Sometimes the decisions are not in keeping with their thinking.  They hope staff will leave with a positive rather than a negative attitude.   The meeting was adjourned.  </div> </td> </tr></table></body>