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).
All Council members were in attendance
Presentation of Chesapeake College’s FY23 Revised Budget Request – Dr. Cliff Coppersmith, President, Chesapeake College; Karen Smith, Vice President for Administrative Services, Chesapeake College – Dr. Coppersmith requested Council approval for Chesapeake College’s FY23 revised budget. The College received an additional $1,295,019 in state funding and will be partially using the additional funds for an additional salary increase to full-time employees of 3% which brings the total increase for employees to 5% for FY2023. A top priority in the revised budget is to also to fund the recommendations from the compensation study completed in FY 2022. Other additional funding resources will be allocated to enrollment growth/retention/student success efforts and college academic programs. Two fund balance requests were made, one in the amount of $50,000 to retain consultants for the Queen Anne Technical Building Program Statement for drafting the program statement required by the State for consideration for future capital projects and the amount of $50,000 for a new Human Resources Tracking System Software Program and Implementation. There are no additional County funds needed and the other four supporting counties (Caroline, Dorchester, Kent and Queen Anne’s) have approved the FY23 revised budget. Council unanimously approved the request. In closing, Dr. Coppersmith noted that student headcount enrollment this year is up by 4% from the fall of 2021.
Introduction of Administrative Resolution:
ADMINISTRATIVE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS PARK ON THE TUCKAHOE COMMITTEE was introduced and unanimously approved by all Council members. County Attorney Patrick Thomas noted the Administrative Resolution formally establishes an on-going committee that would serve as a liaison between entities fundraising for the park and the Council. Council member Pack noted, “It will take some time for the completion of this park and since the County cannot fundraise, this committee would work with the fundraising entity to report back to Council on the progress of fundraising and construction.”
Introduction of Numbered Resolution:
A RESOLUTION TO AMEND RESOLUTION NO. 175, A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH SEWER SERVICE CONNECTION POLICIES FROM THE UNIONVILLE, TUNIS MILLS, AND COPPERVILLE SEWER SERVICE AREA LOW-PRESSURE FORCE MAIN COLLECTION SYSTEM TO THE ROYAL OAK PUMP STATION, FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXEMPTING COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL USES AND SERVICES FROM THE PROVISIONS THEREOF, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS was introduced as Resolution No. 334 by Council members Divilio, Pack and Price. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. County Engineer Ray Clarke explained that this is a policy resolution and not part of the County’s Comprehensive Plan. If approved, Resolution No. 334 would establish policy for the force main between the Royal Oak Pump Station and the Unionville Pump Station and would allow the County to extend sewer to a County owned property, although the Resolution does not identify a specific parcel for connection. Mr. Clarke will provide a listing of all governmental properties located along the force main for Council’s review.
Introduction of Legislation:
A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 190 OF THE TALBOT COUNTY CODE (ZONING, SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT) REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF STRUCTURES UTILIZED FOR NONCONFORMING USES, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS was introduced as Bill No. 1525 by all Council members. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. Brennan Tarleton, Acting Planning Officer, and Bryce Yelton, Planner II, explained the legislation is the result of a text amendment application and would allow the expansion of certain nonconforming uses by an additional 3,000 square feet; provided, however, under no circumstances shall any increase exceed 100% of the gross floor area of the nonconforming use. Approval from the Board of Appeals would still be required.
Introduction of Amendment to Bill No. 1524, A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 190 OF THE TALBOT COUNTY CODE (ZONING, SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT) REGARDING SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS. Vice President Lesher proposed the amendment which was introduced by Council members Callahan, Divilio, Lesher and Price. The amendment will be heard along with Bill No. 1524 at the public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. Vice President Lesher explained the amendment would provide for the “incorporation and use of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) scoring system in identifying the most appropriate location for solar energy systems and will assist in the preservation of some of the county’s best cropland.”
Eligible for Vote:
Resolution No. 331, A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE TALBOT COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE WATER AND SEWER PLAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECLASSIFYING AND REMAPPING TWO PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 29659 MATTHEWSTOWN ROAD (MARYLAND ROUTE 328), EASTON, MARYLAND, SHOWN ON TAX MAP 26 AS PARCEL 45 AND LOCATED ON CAMAC STREET, EASTON, MARYLAND, SHOWN ON TAX MAP 26 AS PARCEL 186, FROM “W-2” AND “S-2”, PLANNED WATER AND SEWER SERVICE IN 3 TO 5 YEARS, TO “W-1” AND “S-1”, IMMEDIATE PRIORITY STATUS
and
Amendment
County Attorney Patrick Thomas explained that the amendment clarifies parcel 186 parcel C consisting of 1.78 acres of land and exhibit A was updated. County Engineer Ray Clarke noted the Planning Commission found Resolution No. 331 consistent with the County’s 2016 Comprehensive Plan and by a vote of 5-0 recommended Council approval. The Public Works Advisory Board reviewed Resolution No. 331 and by a vote of 3-0 recommended Council approval. Council discussion ensued. The Council voted unanimously to approve the amendment to Resolution No. 331. The Council approved Resolution No. 331, as amended, by a vote of 3-2 with Council members Callahan, Divilio and Lesher voting in favor and Council members Pack and Price voting against the Resolution.
Presentation of Draft Talbot County 2022 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan – Preston Peper, Director, Talbot County Department of Parks and Recreation requested Council approval of the County’s 2022 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan which is a five-year plan. Pending Council approval, the Plan will be submitted to the State of Maryland for review and approval. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has reviewed the Plan and recommends approval. Mr. Peper thanked Planning & Zoning staff and Mark Cohoon, GIS Manager, for their assistance with the Plan. Mr. Peper noted the Plan includes not only County projects, but municipal parks as well. Council unanimously approved the Plan and its submittal to the State. Council member Divilio noted, “As the Council’s liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, I am constantly amazed at your hard work Mr. Peper. The County has wonderful parks, pools and playgrounds and it’s due to your leadership.”
County Manager’s Report:
Request from Department of Parks and Recreation to Award Contract for Construction of Pickleball Courts at the Talbot County Community Center Utilizing FY23 Local Parks and Playground Infrastructure (LPPI) Grant Funding – Council unanimously approved the request to award the contract for the construction of eight (8) pickleball courts at the Community Center to ATC Corporation in the amount of $370,204.50. Talbot County will be piggybacking on the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance contract for this project. This project will be funded through the Local Parks and Playground Infrastructure grant issued by the State of Maryland.
Request from Department of Parks and Recreation to Award Contract for Dugouts and Playground at Talbot County Community Center and Playground at Back Creek Park Utilizing FY23 Local Parks and Playground Infrastructure (LPPI) Grant Funding – Council unanimously approved the request to award a contract to GameTime Playground Solutions in the sum of $478,709.10 for the dugouts and a playground at the Talbot County Community Center, and a playground at Back Creek Park. Talbot County will be piggybacking on the Omnia Partners public contract for this project. This project will be funded through the Local Parks and Playground Infrastructure grant issued by the State of Maryland.
Request to ask Local Delegation to Pre-File Correctional Officers’ Retirement System (CORS) Membership Legislation for Talbot County – Council unanimously approved the request to send a letter to the local delegation asking them to pre-file the legislation to allow Talbot County to participate in the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System.
Request from Hog Neck Golf Course to Award Contract for Installation of New HVAC Units for Pavilion Renovation Project – Council unanimously approved the award of a contract to Velocity HVAC for the installation of three (3) 5-ton heat pump systems for the pavilion at Hog Neck Golf Course in the amount of $54,789. There are sufficient funds in the FY23 budget for this project. Council congratulated Rich Setter, Manager, Hog Neck Golf Course, on the project which will allow year-round use of the pavilion for events. President Callahan thanked Mr. Setter on his efforts and stated, “You have run the Golf Course well and are to be commended.”
Board and Committee Appointments
Local Emergency Planning Committee – Mr. Stamp requested the appointment of Joyce Harrod to represent the Town of St. Michaels and the appointment of Cheryl Lewis to represent the Town of Oxford on the Local Emergency Planning Committee. The request was approved unanimously by the Council.
The Council’s next legislative meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
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