The County Commissioners January 25th meeting started at 5:00 p.m. with a Closed Session for “Boards & Commissions and Personnel”. Then at 5:15 p.m. a closed session for Consult with Counsel for a briefing.
ACTION ITEMS
Item #
1. Proclamation 22-08 – January 2022 – Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Commissioner J. Wilson read the Proclamation
2. Rural Legacy – Priority area
Queen Anne’s County has two existing Rural Legacy (RL) Areas, Lands End and Foreman Branch. When applying for grant funding for preservation in both RL areas, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources requests that a priority be given for one of the two areas. In 2021 the County Commissioners designated the Lands End Rural Legacy area as priority over the Forman Branch Rural Legacy Area. Staff recommends choosing the Foreman Branch Rural Legacy Areas as Priority for FY23 Funding. APPROVED 5-0
3. MALPF Matching Funds Program
Queen Anne’s County is a certified County which means 80% of all Agricultural Transfer tax
collected is retained by the County and 20% is remitted to the State of Maryland. The
Agricultural Transfer Tax is used for easement acquisitions. We also participate in the Matching Funds Program which enables the County to receive monies from the State. Currently, there is $85,108 of Agricultural Transfer Tax available for commitment towards the MALPF Matching Funds Program. The initial allocation from the State will provide about $880,000 to each County. Staff recommends approval of the $85,108 of AG Transfer Tax towards the MALPF Matching Funds Program. The Board reviewed addition funding options for a total amount of $1,333,334 to leverage $2,000,000 more from the State for this program. APPROVED 5-0
4. Sudlersville School Study Grant Agreement and Program Forms
“CDBG – MD-22-CD-5”
This is the Grant Agreement and Authorized Signature Forms for the Sudlersville School Study. Funds through this grant will be used for an Adaptive Reuse Feasibility Study for the Former Sudlersville Middle School. Staff recommends execution of the Grant Agreement and the Certification Section for CDBG Grant Number: MD-22-CD-5. APPROVED 5-0
5. MOU with City of Annapolis – Passenger Ferry Feasibility Study
EDT staff has been collaborating with Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County on determining the feasibility of a passenger ferry with a focus of tourism promotion and asset development. Queen Anne’s County signed an MOU with Visit Annapolis in October 2021
to formalize the collaboration and further defining roles and responsibilities in the grant application process. We are now seeking approval to execute an MOU to include the
City of Annapolis. We plan to once again play a supportive role in the grant application process for the EDA Tourism Grant application. The City of Annapolis will take the lead and Visit Annapolis will also play a supportive role when applying for the EDA Grant. We will be applying for an 80% grant to fund a feasibility study for a passenger ferry with a tourism focus which is due on 1/31/2022. It has been suggested that the 3 parties split the 20% funding requirement which results in Queen Anne’s County funding $16,666 of the feasibility study
should the grant be awarded. APPROVED 4-1
6. LR906 – QAC - Alcoholic Beverages – License Application – Exceptions
This is a support letter for a House Bill to authorize the Board of License Commissioners to exempt up to four (4) licenses held by corporations and limited liability companies from ownership requirements and will prohibit the Board from granting such an exemption in the Kent Narrows Commercial Management and Waterfront Improvement District. APPROVED 5-0
7. LR2236 – QAC – Alcoholic Beverages - License Application – Exceptions
This is a support letter for (NOW) Senate Bill 340 to authorize the Board of License Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County to exempt up to four (4) licenses held by corporations and limited liability companies from ownership requirements and will prohibit the Board from granting such an exemption in the Kent Narrows Commercial Management and Waterfront Improvement District. APPROVED 5-0
8. LR472 – QAC Natural Resources – Sunday Hunting
This is a support letter for a House Bill to authorize the Department of Natural Resources
to expand hunting on Sundays in Queen Anne’s County for designated game bird and game mammal seasons. This provision applies only to private property and does not authorize hunting of geese, ducks, doves or other migratory game birds. This bill expands Sunday hunting in QAC on ten (10) Sundays during Archery Season and on two (2) Sundays during Muzzleloader Season. This will align our seasons with adjacent Kent and Talbot Counties. In addition, it adds two Sundays in April and three Sundays in May for spring Turkey Hunting (archery, shotgun or muzzleloader). APPROVED 5-0
9. LR904 – Kent Narrows Bridge – State Highway Right-of-Way Fishing Prohibition
This is a support letter for a House Bill to prohibit a pedestrian from catching fish, by any means, within the State highway right-of-way under the Kent Narrows Draw-Bridge in Queen Anne’s County. This bill would prohibit fishing under or around the Kent Narrows Draw Bridge along MD Route 18 where this activity is hazardous to both the boating public and to the fishing patrons. In addition, the bill would allow for enforcement of a fine/penalty to individuals that willfully violate this activity. APPROVED 5-0
DESK ITEM 10 – SB 342 – QAC Natural Resources – Sunday Hunting This is a support letter for Senate Bill 342 to authorize the Department of Natural Resources to expand hunting on Sundays in Queen Anne’s County for designated game bird and game mammal seasons. This provision applies only to private property and does not authorize hunting of geese, ducks, doves or other migratory game birds. This bill expands Sunday hunting in QAC on ten (10) Sundays during Archery Season and on two (2) Sundays during Muzzleloader Season. This will align our seasons with adjacent Kent and Talbot Counties. In addition, it adds two Sundays in April and three Sundays in May for spring Turkey Hunting (archery, shotgun or muzzleloader). APPROVED 5-0
DESK ITEM 11 - LR2178- Queen Anne’s County-Public Safety- Buildings Used for Agritourism
This is a letter of support for a House Bill that adds Queen Anne’s County to the list of counties where an existing agricultural building used for agritourism for up to 200 persons is not considered a change of occupancy that requires a building permit. This is a change from the 50-person capacity currently in place. APPROVED 3-2 ABSTAINED
DESK ITEM 12 – Board of Education Request to Transfer Between Major State Categories
This is a budget amendment for the Board of Education to account for leave payouts and budget adjustments for budgeted school secretaries. Funds will be transferred from tutoring savings $135,000. Also to account for substitute bus drivers and bus attendance salaries. Funds transferred from tutoring and fixed charges $125,000. Lastly it includes the cost of additional fixed charges for the December stipend to teachers from fund balance $80,919. APPROVED 5-0
DESK ITEM 13 – Number of Early Voting Centers
Section 10-30 1.1 of the Election Law Article sets the number of early voting centers each county is required to have. Based on our current number of registered voters, Queen Anne’s County is required to have one early voting center and may have an optional second early voting center. We first used our optional early voting center in Kent Island in 2014. Since that time, our optional site at the Kent Island Fire Department has been a fully funded — including in the FY 22 budget and provides our county with a high voter turnout percentage during early voting. In each election, more voters have voted at the Kent Island Fire Department during early voting than the other early voting center (located at our offices in Centreville). In 2021, the State law was amended to clarify the State Board of Elections’ approval process for the optional early voting centers. Before the State Board can approve a local board’s optional early voting center the governing body of the county government must approve it. APPROVED 5-0
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Item #
- Maryland Votes for Animals Support letter for Community Cat Bill
- Humane Society of the United States support letter for Community Cat Bill
- Planning and Zoning Monthly Report November 2021
- Planning and Zoning Monthly Report December 2021
- Sudlersville Elementary School Thank you letter
- Thank you card from Judy Sause
- Thank you card Chris Krainer – Kent Island Elementary School
- Thank you letter Department of Social Services
- Letter – renaming of road to “Big Daddy Way”
- Board of Education Administration Building – Future Use
- Save the Date – Mental Health State of the Child Summit
- Centreville Library Appreciation Letter
- Atlantic Broadband rebranding to Breezeline
PRESENTATIONS
I. Charter Counts Proclamation Fairness
II. Dr. Michael Pallone – Overview of Juvenile Diabetes
III. 2022 Comprehensive Plan Introduction - Public Hearing Scheduled for March 22, 2022
LEGISLATION/ Public Hearings
5:35 pm Public Hearing on County Ordinance 21-10
“FOR THE PURPOSE of removing the restriction on Personnel Board members serving more than three terms in office and the restriction on Personnel Board members holding other County offices” ADOPTED 5-0
5:40 pm Public Hearing on County Ordinance 21-11
FOR THE PURPOSE of establishing a Community Cat Program in Queen Anne’s County, adopting a Trap-Neuter-Return Policy for Community Cats”
Record open for two weeks
5:45 pm Public Hearing on County Ordinance 22-01
“PUBLIC FACILITIES BOND AUTHORIZATION OF 2022”
Record open for two weeks
You can watch the meeting here: https://youtu.be/y1a05GDk2_E