These highlights only reflect the business items covered from the Council’s approved agenda. To view the complete County Council meeting, please visit: Talbot County Meeting Videos – Talbot County, Maryland (www.talbotcountymd.gov).
Proclamation – Endometriosis Awareness Month – March 2023 – The Council presented a proclamation to Shannon Hannawald, Endo Warriors of the Eastern Shore, for Endometriosis Awareness Month – March 2023. The proclamation noted that endometriosis is a disease affecting at least 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, whereby the endometrium, a type of tissue that normally grows in the uterus, also grows outside the uterus causing debilitating chronic pain and fatigue. The Council urged all citizens to help increase the awareness of endometriosis and the importance of diagnosing the disease.
Introduction of Numbered Resolution:
A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE TALBOT COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE WATER AND SEWER PLAN TO RECLASSIFY AND REMAP CERTAIN REAL PROPERTIES IN AND AROUND THE VILLAGES OF BAR NECK AND FAIRBANK FROM UNPROGRAMMED TO “S-1” IMMEDIATE PRIORITY STATUS FOR SEWER SERVICE FROM THE REGION V (TILGHMAN) WASTEWATER SYSTEM was introduced by all Council members as Resolution No. 339. Ray Clarke, County Engineer, briefed Council on the project to extend sewer to the villages of Bar Neck and Fairbank which was designated a priority area in 1992. A public hearing on Resolution No. 339 will be held on Tuesday, April 11th at 6:30 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room located in the Talbot County Courthouse, South Wing, 11 North Washington Street, Easton.
A RESOLUTION TO FORMALLY ACCEPT THE OFFER FROM TRIPPES CREEK, LLC TO DEDICATE JENNINGS ROAD TO PUBLIC USE AS A PUBLIC COUNTY ROAD, SAID ROAD BEING MORE PARTICULARLY SHOWN AND DESIGNATED AS “JENNINGS ROAD (50’ PUBLIC R/W)” ON A PLAT ENTITLED “LOT LINE ABANDONMENT & FINAL SUBDIVISION PLAT & FCP 2001-08 SCHWANINGER FARM AT COOKE’S HOPE IN THE FIRST ELECTION DISTRICT TALBOT COUNTY, MARYLAND TAX MAP 42 GRIDS 16 & 22 PARCELS 7, 21, 215,” DATED APRIL 22, 2002 (REVISED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 5, 2006), AND RECORDED AMONG THE PLAT RECORDS OF TALBOT COUNTY, MARYLAND IN LIBER M.A.S. NO. 82, PAGE 42, AND TO ACCEPT FEE SIMPLE TITLE TO THE SAME, FOR NO CONSIDERATION was introduced by all Council members as Resolution No. 340. Ray Clarke, County Engineer, briefed Council that Jennings Road was built to County standards and while it has been maintained by the County for approximately 15 years, it has never been formally accepted as a County road. Trippes Creek, LLC has requested the County accept the road as a County road. A public hearing on Resolution No. 340 will be held on Tuesday, April 11th at 6:30 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room located in the Talbot County Courthouse, South Wing, 11 North Washington Street, Easton.
Introduction of Legislation:
A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 190 OF THE TALBOT COUNTY CODE (ZONING, SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT), SECTIONS 190-15 (CRITICAL AREA OVERLAY), 190-25.2 (TABLE OF LAND USES), 190-31 (MARINE USES), 190-33 (ACCESSORY USES), 190-50 (NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES), 190-58.2 (MINOR VARIANCES), AND 190-78 (TERMS DEFINED), REGARDING EROSION CONTROL MEASURES, PIERS, AND RIPARIAN STRUCTURES was introduced by all Council members as Bill No. 1528. Ryan Showalter, Esq., briefed Council on the history of the zoning text amendment which was requested by Weems Brothers, Inc. in 2022. Mr. Thomas, County Attorney, noted the Planning Commission has made a favorable recommendation to the Council. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 11th at 6:30 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room located in the Talbot County Courthouse, South Wing, 11 North Washington Street, Easton.
Discussion of General Assembly Legislation:
SB302/HB656 Talbot County – Board of Education – Election of Officers 2023 Regular Session – Senate Bill 302 Third Reader (maryland.gov). The purpose of the legislation is to alter the timing of the annual election of officers of the Talbot County Board of Education from the first meeting of the beginning of each calendar year to the last meeting at the end of each calendar year. Upon motion by Mr. Lesher, second by Ms. Haythe, Council approved sending a letter of support by voting 4-1:
Mr. Callahan – aye
Mr. Stepp – aye
Mr. Lesher – aye
Ms. Mielke – nay
Ms. Haythe – aye
Pictured left to right Front Row: Vice President Pete Lesher; Shannon Hannawald, Endo Warriors of the Eastern Shore Back Row: Council Member Dave Stepp; President Chuck Callahan; Council Member Lynn Mielke; Council Member Keasha Haythe
County Manager’s Report –
- Board and Committee Appointments
- Agricultural Resolution Board – Mr. Stamp requested the appointment of Kevin Moran to the Agricultural Resolution Board. The request was unanimously approved by the Council.
- Economic Development Commission – Mr. Stamp requested the appointment of Al Bond as an ex-officio representative of the arts on the Economic Development Commission. The request was unanimously approved by the Council.
- Request from Bellevue Passage Museum for a Letter in Support of Maryland Historic Trust Grant – Council unanimously approved the request from the Bellevue Passage Museum for a letter of support for their grant application to the Maryland Historic Trust for grant funds to renovate the John U. Greene store to house the museum. No County funds are required.
- Request from Department of Public Works –Bid No. 22-08, Open-Ended Architectural/Engineering Services – Recommendation to Award Architectural Design Services for the County’s Public Safety Complex on Mary’s Court – Council unanimously approved the request from the Department of Public Works to award architectural design services for the County’s Public Safety Complex located on Marys Court in Easton to Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc. in the amount of $246,650. There are sufficient funds in the budget for this project.
- Request from Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Department of Parks & Recreation – Recommendation to Award Phase II – Frederick Douglass Park on the Tuckahoe – Council unanimously approved the request from the Department of Economic Development & Tourism, Department of Parks and Recreation and the Frederick Douglass Park on the Tuckahoe Committee to award Phase II of the Frederick Douglass Park on the Tuckahoe to LSG Landscape Architecture in the amount of $291,881.30. LSG completed the master plan and interpretive plan for the park. Funding for the project is through a $300,000 grant from the Maryland Rural Economic Development Fund.
- Request to Approve Transit Development Plan for Caroline, Kent, and Talbot Counties – Council unanimously approved the Transportation Development Plan for Caroline, Kent and Talbot counties as prepared by KFH Group.
The County Council’s next legislative meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 28th beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Council will be holding budget deliberations on Thursday, March 16th beginning at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 21st beginning at 4:00 p.m. and Thursday, March 23rd beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.