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 present.
Update by Maryland Environmental Service – Tim Ford, Managing Director, Environmental Operations, Maryland Environmental Service; Gary Lasako, Senior Project Manager, Maryland Environmental Service – Mr. Ford and Mr. Lasako provided an update to the Council on the Midshore I Regional Solid Waste Facility located in Easton, including the following statistics:
October 2021 – March 2022
- Total solid waste received – 19,263 tons
- Tons of yard waste received – 2,132 tons
- Home Owner Drop Off (HODO) usage – 12,167 customers
- Tons of HODO waste received – 429 tons
- HODO Punch cards sold – $5.00 (21 sold); $10.00 (708 sold); $20.00 (1,024 sold)
Mr. Ford noted that from October 2021 – March 2022 solid waste received was down 8% period-over-period, but is flat compared to the same period two years ago. He further noted that 17,902 carbon offset credits were generated during the 2021 crediting period. A request for proposals is being issued for a Solar Photovaltaic Project at Midshore I.
For Midshore II Regional Solid Waste Facility located in Ridgely, Mr. Ford provided the following statistics:
October 2021 – March 2022
- Billable trash – 62,344 tons
- Brush – 3,574 tons
- Scrap tires – 16 tons
- Mattresses recycled – 23 tons
- Holly Road HODO – 1,034 tons
The agricultural scrap tire event held from March 21, 2022 – April 1, 2022 collected a total of 1,234 tires.
On June 29, 2022 MES submitted a Phase I Refuse Disposal Permit Application for the proposed Midshore III Regional Solid Waste Facility located near Centreville. It is anticipated that MES will solicit bids for the Phase II and Phase III permit applications during the second half of 2022.
Council Consideration of Traffic Advisory Committee Recommendation of Request for Temporary Road Closure of Three Bridge Branch Road for Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival (Friday, August 5, 2022, 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and on Sunday, August 7, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) – Mike Mertaugh, Assistant County Engineer – Following a recommendation from the Traffic Advisory Committee, the Council unanimously approved the request for a temporary road closure of Three Bridge Branch Road for the Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival.
Public Hearing:
A public hearing was held on Bill No. 1522, A BILL TO AUTHORIZE TALBOT COUNTY, MARYLAND (THE “COUNTY”) TO BORROW NOT MORE THAN TWENTY FOUR MILLION NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($24,900,000) IN ORDER TO FINANCE AND REFINANCE (A) THE ACQUISITION, RENOVATION AND/OR CONSTRUCTION OF A TALBOT COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AND (B) THE ACQUISITION, RENOVATION AND/OR CONSTRUCTION OF A TALBOT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FACILITY AND TO EFFECT SUCH BORROWING BY THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF ONE OR MORE SERIES OF ITS GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS PAYABLE FROM AD VALOREM TAXES TO BE LEVIED BY THE COUNTY; EXEMPTING THE BONDS FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 19-205 AND 19-206 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND; AUTHORIZING THE CONSOLIDATION OF SEPARATE SERIES OF BONDS INTO ONE OR MORE BONDS; AUTHORIZING THE REFUNDING OF SUCH BONDS AND RELATING GENERALLY TO THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF SUCH BONDS FOR SUCH PURPOSES. Following the public hearing the Council voted unanimously to approve Bill No. 1522 which authorizes borrowing for the Talbot County Health Department facility and the Talbot County Public Safety building. Both projects are included in the County’s FY23 Budget.
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 was brought forward for vote. Discussion among the Council members, representatives of the Town of Easton, applicant, and attorney for the applicant ensued concerning the proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD) of two hundred homes, additional traffic and impact on public safety and the school system as a result of the development. Following discussion, Council postponed the vote on Resolution No. 331 to a future Council meeting.
County Manager’s Report:
Board and Committee Appointments:
Economic Development Commission – Mr. Stamp requested the appointment of Rob Straebel, St. Michaels Town Administrator, to the Economic Development Commission as the Town’s representative. The request was approved unanimously by the Council.
Emergency Services Advisory Board – Mr. Stamp requested the appointment of Tim Cannon to the Emergency Services Advisory Board as a representative from the Cordova District and Terry Satchell, R.N. as a representative from the Easton District. The request was approved unanimously by the Council.
Request for Letter of Support for For All Seasons, Inc.’s Grant Application to Rural Maryland Council for FY23 Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund Funding – Council unanimously approved the request from For All Seasons, Inc. for a letter of support for their grant application to the Rural Maryland Council for a grant in the sum of $242,060 from the FY23 Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund. If approved, grant funds will be used for For All Seasons’ Same Day Access Program. No County funds are required.
Request from Roads Department to Utilize FY23 Funding for the Purchase of a 2022 Bomag Asphalt Roller – The Roads Department requested Council approval to purchase a 2022 Bomag asphalt roller from the low bidder, Midlantic Machinery, in the amount of $55,233. There are sufficient funds in the FY23 budget. Council unanimously approved the request. The asphalt roller is expected to be delivered in January 2023.
Request from Department of Corrections to Utilize FY23 Contingency Funding for Replacement of Water Heater at the Talbot County Detention Center – The Department of Corrections requested Council approval to use $125,000 of FY23 contingency funds to complete the purchase of two new hot water heaters from Electrical Automation Services, Inc. The project was approved and awarded in FY22; however, because of supply chain disruptions, the project could not be completed. The overall cost of the project was $225,000 with $125,000 of work remaining to complete the project. Martha Sparks, Finance Director, confirmed there are sufficient contingency funds in the FY23 budget for the purchase. Council unanimously approved.
Request from Department of Information Technology to Award Contract for Office 365 Migration and Cybersecurity Services – The Department of Information Technology requested Council approval to utilize an existing State of Maryland Consulting and Technical Services contract (CATS+) to provide enhanced security for core software services and to provide managed services in the amount of $179,958. Additionally, the Department of Information Technology requested approval to piggyback on a State of Maryland contract with an approved vendor for associated software licensing in the amount of $48,756. Council had previously allocated $160,000 in ARPA funds for this project with the remainder of $68,714 to come from the FY23 budget for Information Technology. Council unanimously approved.
Request from Department of Public Works to Negotiate with Lowest, Responsive and Responsible Bidder for Bid No. 22-05 – The Department of Public Works requested Council approval to negotiate with the low bidder, Retallack & Sons, Inc., on the scope of the project and overall costs. A total of three bids were received for the project all of whom were over budget. Council unanimously approved.
The Council’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room.
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
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