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New Hearing Ordered on Lakeside Wastewater Discharge Permit

May 17, 2021 by Bay Journal Leave a Comment

Those worried about the potential for water pollution from a massive residential and commercial development planned in Trappe will get another chance to voice their concerns.

A Talbot County Circuit Court judge has ordered the Maryland Department of the Environment to hold another hearing and give the public another opportunity to comment on sewage discharge plans for Lakeside, a proposed community of 2,501 homes and apartments plus a shopping center, in the small town of Trappe.

The April 27 ruling by Judge Stephen Kehoe came in a case filed by ShoreRivers, which had appealed the groundwater discharge permit the MDE had issued to Lakeside’s developer, Trappe East Holdings Business Trust. Development plans called for discharging treated wastewater by spraying it on fields of orchard grass in a corner of the 860-acre tract near the headwaters of Miles Creek, a tributary of the Choptank River.

Lawyers for the developer and the town of Trappe had filed a joint consent to ShoreRivers request that the permit be sent back to the MDE for further review.

State regulators originally granted the project a wastewater discharge permit in 2005, around the time Trappe voters approved annexing the undeveloped land into town limits. Development plans stalled after that, but the MDE tentatively approved a new permit in 2019 and finalized it in December 2020.

ShoreRivers contended that the final permit was different in key respects from the version MDE asked the public to comment on in 2019. The final permit was based on a nutrient management plan that spells out the terms and limitations of the treated wastewater spraying — but that plan was submitted after the public comment period had ended, and the MDE refused ShoreRivers’ requests to reopen the case.

“The nutrient management plan is a core component of the permit,” said Matt Pluta, the Choptank Riverkeeper. “Whether or not the details in [the plan] are adequate in protecting water quality warranted a review from the public.”

The final permit required the developer’s proposed sewage treatment plant to use enhanced nutrient removal, significantly lowering the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the wastewater before spraying it on up to 88 acres of grassy fields. The developer also was directed to build a lagoon to store wastewater for up to 75 days during winter and other times of the year when it’s raining or too windy to spray.

Pluta conceded that those changes could reduce chances of degrading nearby waterways. But he and others still question whether the system would prevent pollution from getting into the creek or the Choptank, both of which are already impaired by nutrients.

MDE spokesman Jay Apperson said the state regulatory agency will comply with the court order. But he added that the MDE “has not yet determined when the public comment period will open, and we have not yet scheduled a public hearing.”

The ruling put on hold a separate lawsuit filed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation challenging the MDE’s approval of the Lakeside discharge permit. CBF spokesman AJ Metcalf said the environmental group would pause its litigation while new comments are taken on the permit.

“We welcome this additional opportunity for the public to weigh in on the nutrient management plan associated with this project’s discharge permit, as well as another chance to comment on the terms and conditions of the permit,” said Alan Girard, CBF’s Eastern Shore director.

Lawyers for the developer of Lakeside and for the town of Trappe did not respond to emails seeking comment.

By Timothy B. Wheeler

Meet Dave Harden: Another Democrat Signs up to Take on Andy Harris

May 17, 2021 by Dave Wheelan 2 Comments

To the surprise of many on the Eastern Shore, the Congressional race for the 1st District in Maryland is off to a very early start. A month or so ago, Kent County’s Heather Mizeur announced her intention to run against incumbent Andy Harris in 2022. And just last week, another Democrat, Dave Harden, of Westminster jumped into the race, resulting in a contested primary election in late June next year.

While this can only be welcomed news for those who oppose Rep Harris’s policies and voting record, it needs to be pointed out that as it stands now, Maryland’s 1st District is one of the safest in the country for Republicans.

Designed explicitly by Democrats to limit the state’s representation to just one seat for the GOP out of eight, the last few elections have revealed how successful this form of gerrymandering has been for Dr. Harris, who won 63% of the vote in 2020.

This formula could change in 2022 as Republicans and Democrats are tasked again to redrawing the state’s congressional districts over the next several months. Still, most political observers predict that MD-1 will remain a bullet-proof Republican seat after the dust settles on the issue.

Nonetheless, this somewhat sobering analysis has not stopped these two well-qualified Democratic candidates in launching early campaigns to defeat Harris.

Last week, we introduced our Spy readers to Heather Mizeur. This week, we offered the same platform to Dave Harden.

This video is approximately twelve minutes in length. For more information about John Harden please go here.

St. Michaels Budget Set for Wednesday Night Public Hearing

May 11, 2021 by John Griep Leave a Comment

St. Michaels will hold a virtual public hearing Wednesday night on a proposed $3.5 million budget that includes a cut to the property tax rate and a smaller reduction in marketing spending than originally suggested.

The Fiscal Year 2022 budget, proposed by St. Michaels Commissioner Tad DuPont and introduced by Commissioners David Breimhurst and Mike Bibb, would set the property tax rate at 49 cents ($0.49) per $100 of assessed value. The town’s current rate is 52.4 cents ($0.524) per $100.

DuPont, selected by the town commissioners as treasurer, said during a May 4 budget work session that the commissioners are elected by town residents and “it’s their interest that we need to look after.

“They’re the ones that pay significant portion of the bills, and it’s our duty to ensure public continuity and safety and look after their interest, as well as everybody else’s,” he said.

He said the budget was a compromise, with departments being adequately funded, but not getting everything they wanted.

“We listened to public works. They got most of what they asked for but they didn’t get it all. We listened to the police department. They got a lot of what they wanted, they got what they needed, but they also didn’t get everything that they’d like to have. The same thing happened with the administration office. They got some of what they wanted, but they didn’t get it all,” DuPont said.

“The other thing that we’ve been able to accomplish in this budget is we’ve been able to separate the water department…. The water department will stand on its own and it will be able to pay off its debts in roughly three years. The way it currently is budgeted, it will be approximately $71,000 to the plus … this year.

“So that all being said, I feel that the commissioners have done a great job in trying to balance everybody’s needs, everybody’s wants, including the taxpayer,” DuPont said.

Using the current rate and a projected tax base of $307.6 million, the town would have collected $1,611,824 in property taxes. The proposed 49-cent rate will bring in $1,507,240, reducing the town’s revenues by about $100,000.

With the lower rate, property owners would save $34 on a $100,000 property, $68 on a $200,000 property, $170 on $500,000, $340 on $1 million, $1,700 on $5 million, and $3,400 on a property valued at $10 million.

The minimal savings to individual taxpayers while the town commissioners are debating $50,000 in spending prompted Commissioner Jaime Windon to oppose the tax cut during a May 4 budget work session.

“A few weeks ago we had a kind of a general philosophical discussion about some people are of the mindset that we should always be working to reduce taxes and so that’s an admirable goal if that’s what your end result is.

“The problem for me and the reason that I’m so resistant to it after you know trying to look at it from all angles — and I promise you I have — is that it’s just that cut just doesn’t amount to that much for the individual taxpayer, even those who own a massive amount of property,” she said.

“And I just feel that we’re still debating hotly $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 decisions — which I’m not saying we shouldn’t debate every fiscal decision that comes before the town — but until we’re in a place where we have more than enough money to make all of those decisions that make this town a town that we’re all proud to live in, and that we all feel is thriving, then I don’t … personally feel motivated to make a tax cut, which is why I’m opposed to it,” Windon said.

Commissioner David Breimhurst said the budget included “safety valves” and “we’re still in the midst of a pandemic,” with restaurants required to maintain six-foot distancing.

“So, if worse comes to worse and things do look like they’re going down the drain, we still have the reserve and the ability to kick in,” he said. “(W)e’ve done a lot of hard work on this budget and it’s been painful … because we’ve really … sliced and diced it every which way we possibly can. And we’re trying to give something to everyone and if it’s three cents for the taxpayers, that’s great.”

The most controversial issue in the budget had been a proposal to cut the marketing spending from the $140,000 originally proposed to $40,000.

The money for marketing and advertising comes from two revenue sources — the accommodations tax and the amusement and admissions tax. The biggest portion comes from the accommodations tax, which is paid by guests staying at hotels, B&Bs, inns, and short-term rentals.

St. Michaels typically has used about 75% of the revenue from those two taxes to pay for town services related to tourism, including trash pickup and police. The town has used the remaining 25% for advertising and marketing and the $140,000 in the initial draft budget was about 23% of the expected accommodations and amusement taxes for FY22.

During the May 4 budget work session, numerous business owners spoke against any cuts to the marketing budget.

Kim Hannon, president of the St. Michaels Business Association, noted “the money that is used for advertising is from the accommodations and amusement tax…. (T)he accommodations tax and amusement tax is paying for this. So … if you cut that, you’re basically biting off the hand that feeds you. It just doesn’t make any sense to do that.”

Restaurateur Chris Agharabi said St. Michaels residents and businesses depend on tourism and the town should be spending more on marketing, not less.

With a budget of $3.5 million, the town is spending about 2.5% on marketing, much lower than the recommended 7 to 8%, he said.

“So, yeah, we’re all gonna save a couple hundred bucks on property tax, whoop-de-do. A couple hundred dollars. Terrific. Why don’t you take that money (and) put some flowers in front of my building that I paid for?” Agharabi said. “So get a grip, get control of your $3.5 million budget, think a little bit, stop worrying about two cents on $100 and do something productive ….”

The budget as introduced during that meeting provides nearly $91,000 for marketing, about 15 percent of the $610,000 revenue expected from the accommodations and amusement taxes.

The proposed budget includes another $64,000 reserved for marketing and/or trash services. If half of that reserve is approved for marketing during the fiscal year, the total spending for marketing would be $123,000, about 20 percent of the expected revenue from the two taxes.

The virtual meeting using Zoom begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 12. If you have not used Zoom, please take a few minutes to download the free app to your computer or smart phone prior to joining the meeting.

Join meeting by computer or smart phone by clicking link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3264261778
Meeting ID: 326 426 1778

Join by phone with audio only:
1-301-715 8592
Meeting ID: 326 426 1778

Election 2022: Heather Mizeur Maps Out her Campaign

May 10, 2021 by James Dissette 2 Comments

For Maryland Congressional District 1 candidate Heather Mizeur, the January 6 attack on the Capital was the last straw. Once again, she found herself rising to the challenge of wanting to make a difference in a fractious political environment.

But that’s thing about Mizeur: she looks for common cause, the similarities, not the differences where polar opposites dominate the national conversation, and she’s had lots of experience building those bridges serving as the 20th District of Montgomery County in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2007 to 2015.

Lauded by the Baltimore Sun as “one of the leading environmental advocates in the General Assembly” for her work on the environment,” Mizeur in 2011 authored a democratic National Committee resolution urging the president to reject the proposed Keystone XL pipeline and also called for stronger oversight of the hydraulic fracking process.

In 2009, Mizeur introduced and passed the Family Coverage Expansion Act to allow young adults to stay on family health plans until age 25. In 2009, she introduced and passed the Foster Kids Coverage Act to extend Medicaid coverage to former foster care youth.

For the last four years, Mizeur has been working with her non-profit social justice and educational foundation, Soul Force Politics “dedicated to the cultivation, empowerment, and alignment of inner wisdom and external engagement as a catalyst for individual and community transformation.”

“The fundamental question we ask at Soul Force is ‘how the world would be different if politics would be grounded in the ethic of love, because when we’re engaging in the dialogue from a place of love and care we are putting aside our judgement, we’re putting aside our division and we’re open too being curious and compassionate, kind, and respectful about where someone else is coming from,” she says.

With the next election being held on November 8, 2022, Mizeur is familiar with the rigors and outreach required for campaign trail. Former District 1 Republican Representative Wayne Gilchrest’s recent endorsement is an early sign of her appeal to those who do not see Andy Harris in alignment with the District’s values.

The Spy interviewed Heather Mizeur last week on the farm near Chestertown she shares with her wife, Deborah, a clinical herbalist and nutritionist.

This video is approximately ten minutes in length.

Talbot County, FEMA Host COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at Easton’s Elks Lodge May 11-14, 16

May 7, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Talbot County Health Department in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic May 11-14 and May 16 at the Easton Elks Lodge #1622 for individuals aged 18 and older.

Appointments for the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) one-dose vaccine can be made at marylandvax.org, the below links, or with assistance by calling the Health Department’s vaccination helpline at 410-819-5641. The helpline is operated Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Gov. Larry Hogan and FEMA announced March 29 that these mobile clinics are part of the nation’s first federal mobile COVID-19 vaccination units launching in the State of Maryland.

“We are excited to again offer the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine to our community,” Dr. Maria Maguire, Talbot County Health Officer said. “After a thorough review, the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration determined that the J&J vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19. The brief pause on the use of the J&J vaccine was proof that the surveillance systems to monitor the safety of vaccines are in place and working.

“This vaccine is a great option for many people — one dose and you’re done! And it’s never been easier to get the COVID-19 vaccine — you can make an appointment in advance, or stop by when it’s convenient for you,” Maguire said as she encourages the public to share this information with individuals and groups who haven’t been vaccinated.

Though everyone 16 years and older is now eligible to be vaccinated, these specific clinics are open to people age 18 years and above because that is the minimum age the Johnson and Johnson vaccine can be given per its FDA authorization. 16- and 17-year-olds interested in getting vaccinated require the Pfizer vaccine, which is available through the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health and the state-run mass vaccine clinic in Salisbury.

Elks Lodge #1622 is located at 502 Dutchmans Lane in Easton. Appointments are suggested but not required. Walk-ins are welcome. Vaccinations available on a first-come, first-served basis. The mobile units are designed to provide a minimum of 150 doses per day. Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, May 11- Friday, May 14, and Sunday, May 16.

Registration links for FEMA Vaccine Clinics at the Easton Elks Lodge are as follows:

Tuesday, May 11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3ttUBCW

Wednesday, May 12, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: https://bit.ly/2R1BbZ5

Thursday, May 13, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3bcBZRE

Friday, May 14, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3usNhZz

Sunday, May 16, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3xW9kKD

More information and resources about Talbot County’s response to COVID-19 is at talbotcovid19.org and talbothealth.org.

Groups File Lawsuit to Remove Confederate Monument at Talbot County Courthouse

May 6, 2021 by Maryland Matters 19 Comments

A Confederate monument on the Talbot County courthouse lawn in Easton is racist and unconstitutional, said civil rights groups who filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday seeking to remove the Jim Crow-era statue.

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender and the Talbot County NAACP branch argue in the newly filed lawsuit that by keeping up the Confederate statue — a century-old monument to county residents who fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War and the last Confederate monument on public land in Maryland — county officials are violating both state and federal laws.

The plaintiffs want the statue removed from the grounds of the Talbot County Courthouse.

The lawsuit represents the latest step in a years-long effort by activists to remove the statue from the courthouse grounds. After Talbot County Council members rejected a proposal to move the statue last year, rallies calling for the removal the Confederate monument continued. At a Wednesday press conference, the lawsuit’s plaintiffs said repeated rejections from county officials forced them to take legal action.

The ACLU of Maryland, alongside Crowell & Moring LLP, an international law firm based in Washington, D.C., is representing the plaintiffs in the case.

Dana Vickers Shelley, the executive director of the ACLU of Maryland, said Wednesday that both the county courthouse and the statue sit on the grounds of a former slave market.

“It is beyond time for this racist symbol of violence and oppression to be removed,” Vickers Shelley said.

“The Talbot Boys statue says just this: ‘In this building, white people are given priority over Black people;’ and ‘Justice for Black people means something different than what Justice means for white people means.’ To view it differently is to ignore objective fact,” the lawsuit reads.

The plaintiffs argue that the presence of the monument on the courthouse grounds violates the U.S. Constitution’s 14th amendment, which guarantees due process and equal protection of laws. The Talbot Boys statue’s location is “facially discriminatory,” the lawsuit reads.

“In short, the statue says symbolically no less clearly than were it emblazoned on the front entrance to the courthouse that Black people do not enjoy the ‘equal protection of the laws,’” the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit notes that roughly 12.8% of Talbot County’s more than 37,000 residents are Black.

“That any government in the United States would continue to maintain the symbolism of white supremacy and promote a legacy of racial subjugation should shock the conscience,” the complaint reads. “That Talbot County does so on a courthouse lawn — a place of prominence that holds itself out as the seat of justice in the county; a place that county citizens pay for and maintain with tax dollars, including the tax dollars of its Black citizens who are overtly denigrated and humiliated by the statue — only compounds the unconscionability of the statue and illuminates its illegality.”

Kisha Petticolas, an assistant public defender in Talbot County and one of the plaintiffs in the case, said she has to walk past the statue on a daily basis for her work. Petticolas, who is Black, said the monument is a painful reminder of “hate, oppression and white supremacy” to both herself and her clients.

“My clients who are walking into the courthouse, hoping to be given a fair shot at justice, are walking onto a courthouse lawn that still celebrates the Confederacy,” Petticolas said. “It is beyond time for this statue to be removed from the courthouse grounds.”

In addition to violating the 14th Amendment, plaintiffs argue that county officials are violating other federal laws and Maryland’s own constitution by keeping the statue in place in front of the courthouse.

Richard Potter, the president of the Talbot County NAACP and a plaintiff, said his organization has been asking county council members to remove the statue since after the 2015 murder of nine Black people during Bible study by a white supremacist in Charleston, South Carolina.

That effort was rebuffed by council members, who have also rejected subsequent efforts. Potter noted that calls to remove the statue were revived after the murder of George Floyd last year, but even amid a wave of Confederate monument removals across the country, county council members voted 3-2 against removing the Talbot Boys statue.

“The council left us with no other choice but to take this action,” Potter said Wednesday. “We have waited long enough.”

In voting to keep the monument up last year, the council majority said the fate of the Talbot Boys statue should be decided by community members instead of the county government.

“This should be in the hands of the community, and not our hands,” Council Vice President Charles F. Callahan III (R), who voted to keep the statue in place, said at the time.

Council President Corey W. Pack (R) and Councilman Peter Lesher (D) voted to remove the monument, while the other Republicans on the council, Laura E. Price and Frank Divilio, voted to keep the statue.

Callahan did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Confederate monuments were removed from public grounds in Maryland and across the United States last year amid widespread protests against systemic racism and police brutality. In one of his final acts as Wicomico County executive before his death last year, Bob Culver (R) removed a Confederate marker in Salisbury.

During their 2021 legislative session, Maryland lawmakers voted to repeal “Maryland, My Maryland,” with its pro-Confederate lyrics, as the official state song.

Read the full complaint here:

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By Bennett Leckrone

St. Michaels May 4 Budget Talks to Focus on Marketing, Trash

May 4, 2021 by John Griep Leave a Comment

This video is about 33 minutes long.

St. Michaels commissioners will hold a budget work session this afternoon, as the town grapples with two major issues — marketing and trash.

A suggestion to drastically cut the amount of money the town spends on marketing has drawn heated opposition from business owners and tourist attractions.

The debate also has led to two commissioners publicly apologizing to two local business owners for suggesting they had supported the cuts to the town’s marketing budget.

The money for marketing and advertising comes from two revenue sources — the accommodations tax and the amusement and admissions tax.

The accommodations tax is paid by guests staying at hotels, B&Bs, inns, and short-term rentals. The money is collected by the lodging industry and then paid to the county.

Talbot County keeps up to 5% for administrative expenses, then sends the tax revenue to the towns in which the tax was collected.

Any accommodations tax paid for lodging that is outside the incorporated towns is kept by the county, which has dedicated its use for economic development and tourism. However, the county law allows towns to use accommodations tax revenue to “alleviate costs related to tourism.”

The amusement and admissions tax is “imposed on the gross receipts from admissions, the use or rental of recreational or sports equipment and the sale of merchandise, refreshments or services at a nightclub or similar place where entertainment is provided,” according to the state comptroller’s office.

During an April 16 budget session, Commissioner Tad DuPont, the town’s treasurer, suggested the proposed marketing budget for Fiscal Year 2022 be cut from $140,000 to $40,000.

Several business owners spoke against any cut during the town’s April 27 meeting, noting advertising is responsible for making the town and its attractions so well known.

In addition to the marketing budget, commissioners also are awaiting information on whether it would be more cost effective to out-source trash collection to a private firm.

During the April 27 meeting, Donna Hunt, a former town commissioner, said that issue had been extensively studied in the past and the town determined costs would be lower and services would be better if town crews collected trash.

Hunt noted that a private firm likely would pick up trash later in the day, meaning trash containers would remain on the streets and sidewalks all day until residents returned home from work and were able to put the containers away.

Today’s virtual budget work session is set to begin at 5 p.m. For information on how to view and/or listen to the meeting by computer or phone, click here.

Easton Incumbents Unopposed in May 4 Election

April 27, 2021 by John Griep

Easton voters go to the polls Tuesday, May 4, to vote for council president and town council members for Wards 2 and 4.

The three incumbents — President Megan Cook, Ward 2 Councilman Donald Abbatiello, and Ward 4 Councilman Rev. Elmer Neal Davis Jr. are unopposed.

All three are seeking a full four-year term to their respective positions:

• Abbatiello won election in May 2019 to serve the last two years of Pete Lesher’s term. Lesher won election to the Talbot County Council in November 2018 and vacated his town council seat.

• Cook was elected town council president in a special election after the death of John Ford.

• Davis was appointed after Cook became president, vacating her Ward 4 seat.

The election will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Easton Firehouse, 315 Leonard Rieck Drive, in Easton. Absentee ballots must be returned to the town office by 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 4.

Easton has staggered four-year terms for elected officials, with elections every two years. In 2023, voters will choose a mayor, and town council members for Wards 1 and 3.

This article has been corrected from its original publication.

St. Michaels Hard Talk: A Town Debates the Tourism Tax Revenue

April 21, 2021 by John Griep

This video is about 30 minutes long.

A proposed 70% cut to the town’s advertising budget during a recent budget work session has St. Michaels business owners concerned.

During the April 16 virtual session, St. Michaels Commissioner T. Coleman “Tad” DuPont suggested reducing advertising spending from $140,000 to $40,000 in the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget.

DuPont, the commission’s treasurer, said the town should not be encouraging more visitors when businesses are unable, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to accommodate current visitors.

He later suggested the savings could be used to fund other costs associated with tourism, such as an additional police officer and Saturday trash pickup.

The funds for advertising do not come from town taxpayers, but from the accommodations tax paid by guests staying at hotels and other lodging.

Talbot County collects the tax, then disburses it to the towns where the money was collected (after deducting up to 5% for administrative costs).

County law requires towns to use accommodations tax revenue “to alleviate costs associated with tourism.”

St. Michaels currently allocates 25% of its accommodations tax revenue “directly to advertising,” 5% to the volunteer fire department, and the remaining 70% throughout its budget “to help support the cost of tourism to the town, ie. Personnel, restroom maintenance, weekend trash pickup, a small portion of dump fees, park maintenance, a portion of Liability Insurance, infrastructure repairs and maintenance, a portion of capital improvements, etc.,” Town Manager Jean Weisman said in response to an information request.

If the town commissioners were to adopt DuPont’s proposal, St. Michaels would only be committing about 8 percent of its accommodations tax revenue directly to advertising to promote tourism to the town.

DuPont’s proposal led to a lengthy and occasionally heated discussion among town commissioners, with Vice President Jaime M. Windon questioning such a drastic cut.

Windon said town business owners would be “aghast” to hear the proposal.

In an April 19 email, Kim Hannon, St. Michaels Business Association president, informed members about the proposed cut.

“Hi, I am writing to let all of you know that the Commissioners of St. Michaels have been discussing slashing the annual advertising budget from $140,000 to $40,000! YES, slashing it $100,000 – 70% CUT,” Hannon wrote.

Town commissioners did not reach a consensus on the cut during the April 16 budget work session and are waiting to learn how much it would cost to outsource trash pickup before setting the next work session.

A public hearing on the budget will be held after it is officially introduced.

The town’s current draft budget, which includes other changes town commissioners accepted by consensus during the April 16 work session, is below.

St. Michaels FY22 Budget 4-16 DRAFT

Talbot Council Proposes $112.5M FY22 Budget

April 16, 2021 by John Griep

This video is about 31 minutes long.

The county council has introduced a $112.5 million budget for the coming fiscal year, up substantially from this year’s $96.5 million budget.

But much of the increase is slated for long-delayed capital projects, including $5 million set aside for a new public safety center. The center would house the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office and related agencies.

All five members of the Talbot County Council introduced the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. Public hearings on the budget, which is Bill 1473, are set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 4 (to be held virtually) and 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, in the Easton Elementary School cafeteria at 307 Glenwood Ave.

Written public comments may be emailed to publiccomment@talbotcountymd.gov or mailed to County Council, Courthouse, South Wing, 11 N. Washington St., Easton, MD 21601. The public is encouraged to submit written comments by Monday, May 3.

The budget includes a 1-cent increase above what is allowed under Talbot’s property tax cap. Voters okayed a measure allowing for the rate increase in the November election.

The county’s proposed real property tax rate (outside of incorporated towns) is $0.6529 per $100 of assessed value. The county rate is slightly lower for properties in the town limits of Easton, Oxford, Queen Anne, St. Michaels, and Trappe.

Angela Lane, the county’s finance director, said Tuesday that the general fund budget is 16.56% higher than this year’s, but most of the $16 million increase is for capital projects, capital outlay, and equipment purchases.

Operating expenses would increase less than 4%, she said.

Talbot County Manager Clay Stamp said the strategy for the FY2022 budget included capital projects and retention and recruitment of county staff, particularly in public safety — the sheriff’s office, detention center, and emergency medical services.

“When you look at the budget, we’re looking at a … modest increase in the operational line item of the budget, and clearly an investment in our capital improvement projects,” Stamp said. “(T)he capital improvement program is an investment into our future and frankly a number of the projects in this are long overdue and need to be addressed, and just merely by engaging this level in this program we are trying to … stimulate economic development as well.”

Council Vice President Pete Lesher said the county council made a commitment when asking voters to change the tax cap.

“And we said, where there is a critical need is in … public safety, and it’s both in the capital needs with the construction of the sheriff’s office on the horizon, but also … the recruitment and retention of our officers and the aspects of this budget that have to do with public safety salaries, not only sheriff’s office but in emergency services and so forth, all of those public safety functions,” he said. “We’re making a real commitment.

“(T)his I believe is a responsible and sustainable budget, and is fulfilling — as we made that commitment to the public — those critical functions and funding them going forward,” Lesher said. “We heard from the public that these are important, these need to be funded. And we’re true to our word here, this is where this money is going.”

Councilman Frank Divilio said he was nervous about such a big increase.

“I know that we’re making some huge improvements, both in traffic and safety and in all departments, but it comes at a time when money isn’t just freely flowing, if you look around and businesses are either closed or hiring right now, it’s a very odd time,” he said. “And I am very nervous because I know we still have the road to recovery to come out of this and we’re not … there yet.

Councilman Corey Pack said council members knew that long-delayed capital projects needed to be funded.

“Several of us knew that these capital expenses were going to come due, and we’re going to have to step up and pay for them,” he said. “I think the way that this budget is set up, yes there is a large increase, but we look at the operational side … less than a 4% (increase)…, and that’s the part that keeps eating, the operational side.

“But it’s not reckless spending, and it’s not an increase just for the sake of increase…. We had to do some things on the capital side that we knew that we’re gonna have to pay,” Pack said. “We had to do some things on the operational side when it comes to retention and recruitment and keeping good quality people here. So, this is the price you have to pay to do business in the 21st century.”

Councilwoman Laura Price recalled her first year on the council “when we had to cut a budget and slice and dice and it was painful because the county had, … in the two years prior, … used $17 million in fund balance.”

She noted capital projects require separate approval after budget passage.

“(P)eople need to know that any capital spending requires a whole separate bill to truly authorize the expenditure,” Price said. “So it’s ready to go, but we haven’t, you know, spent that yet.”

Bill 1473

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