Talbot County, Maryland

09/13/2024

Category: County Council

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Members of Constitution Alliance, Washington College Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture, and Bailey-Groce Family Foundation Operation on the Hill accept proclamation for Constitution and Citizenship Week.

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Executive Editor, Jim Johnson, accepts proclamation for 225th Anniversary of The Star Democrat.

The Talbot County Council held their regular meeting on September 10 at 5 p.m.; all Council members were present.

Certificate of Recognition: 225th Anniversary of The Star Democrat

Jim Johnson, Executive Editor, The Star Democrat accepted a proclamation on behalf of The Star Democrat’s 225th anniversary.

In August, The Star Democrat newspaper celebrated its 225th anniversary of publication. The paper, which adopted its current name in 1896, was also known in early years by other names including The Republican, The Star, The Republican Star, and Eastern Shore Political Luminary.

“We’re not just a newspaper, we are a community builder. That is our goal in the community, to build this community and work on reporting on what our community does.” said Executive Editor Jim Johnson. Council recognized that this sentiment carries throughout the paper’s work, commending the paper for their generous and transparent coverage of County happenings; citing recent work of reporters Konner Metz and Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado.

Proclamation: Constitution and Citizenship Week

Members of the Constitution Alliance, Washington College Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture, and Bailey-Groce Family Foundation Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill accepted a proclamation that officially designates September 17 – 23, 2024 as Constitution and Citizenship Week in Talbot County.

September 17, 2024 marks the 237th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787.

Constitution Week, first established on a national level in 1956, encourages all citizens of the United States to support and reaffirm the freedoms and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, and further encourages individuals to study the Constitution and reflect on the privilege of being an American.

As part of Constitution and Citizenship Week, the Constitution Alliance, Washington College Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture, and Bailey-Groce Family Foundation Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill will be hosting “Our Liberty and Freedom”, an event that will highlight the importance of the constitution on Tuesday, September 17th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Academy Art Museum, 107 South Street, Easton. The event entitled, “Our Journey to Liberty and Freedom” will include a ceremony and performance by nationally renowned Thomas Jefferson and Frederick Douglass Reenactors.

Other Business

• Mid Shore Behavioral Health provided their annual update on behavioral health in Talbot County and the Region. The group serves as a regional core service agency (CSA) for Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties. Their primary responsibility is to provide community planning, management, and monitoring of publicly funded, medically necessary, mental health services for consumers across the entire life span. Following the presentation, Council approved the FY25 Letter of Agreement as presented.
• Resolution No. 362, introduced by Council, requests an amendment to the Talbot County Comprehensive Water and Sewer plan to reclassify and remap two parcels on Bozman/Neavitt Road from unprogrammed to “S-1” Immediate Priority Status, due to failing septic systems. County Engineer, Ray Clarke, stated that, if approved, the resolution will allow the property owners to be connected to sewer service, although it does not guarantee funding will be available to assist the homeowners with the connection or engineering costs. The public hearing on Resolution No. 362 will be held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room.
• Resolution No. 363, was introduced by Lesher, Mielke, and Stepp.  On July 15, 2024, the Easton Town Council adopted Resolution No. 6185 for the purpose of annexing two parcels of real property shown on Tax Map 34 as Parcels 128 and 175, totaling 17.329± acres, and located on the east side of U.S. Route 50.  The subject properties are zoned Town Conservation under the County’s zoning. The Town of Easton is requesting a waiver on the County’s 5-year zoning restriction on the properties to be annexed so that the Town can apply its R-10A zoning classification. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room.
• Bill No. 1579, introduced by Callahan, Haythe, Mielke, and Stepp, addresses conditions for approval of Bill No. 1544 by the Maryland Critical Area Commission. The Commission requested an additional requirement be included in Bill No. 1544 for historic inns located within the Critical Area. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room.
• A public hearing was held on Bill No. 1578, which, if approved, would amend the County’s Electrical Standards code. Changes include requiring a permit from the Office of Permits and Inspections for electrical projects as stated in the County Code and lays out the requirements for an electrician to receive a permit for a project.  Bill 1578 is eligible for vote on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
• The County Manager presented two board nominations for the Council’s consideration:
  • Administrative Charging Committee – Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Constance Hope.
  • Tourism Board – Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Kristen Greenaway, President and CEO, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum to serve as the Countywide Cultural Attraction representative to the Board.
• The Department of Public Works requested approval to award Bates Moving and Storage Company, Inc. the moving and storage contract for the St. Michaels Library Branch expansion and renovation project in the amount of $100,993 by piggybacking on a Wicomico County Public School contract. The expense is not covered by the State Library Grant and will be paid for utilizing previously approved local funding. The request was approved unanimously.
• The Roads Department requested approval to utilize FY25 Capital Outlay funding for the purchase of two dump trucks in the sum of $534,544.00 using a State of Maryland purchase order; and to purchase a Swenson specialty cross conveyor in the sum of $15,095 as an attachment for the dump trucks. Council unanimously approved the requests.
• The Facilities Maintenance Department requested approval to utilize FY25 Capital Outlay funding for the purchase of a 3/4 ton utility body truck in the amount of $60,900 by piggybacking on a Baltimore County contract. All requests were included in the FY25 budget. Council unanimously approved the request.
• The Department of Planning and Zoning requested approval for an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Inc., Bellevue Passage Museum, and Talbot County. The original MOU was signed on July 7, 2024, forging the path for construction of a museum in Bellevue Park. The amendment adds additional language at the request of the State of Maryland Critical Area Commission. The amendment was approved unanimously.
• The County Manager requested Council approval to establish an internal working group to review County owned properties. The committee with be comprised of two Council members, the County Manager, the Planning Officer, the Director of Economic Development and Tourism, the Director of Facilities, the Director of Information Technology, and the Department of Public Works GIS Manager. Once established, the committee will meet throughout the fall and winter to make a recommendation to the County Council regarding the best and highest use of several County owned properties.
• The Council unanimously approved providing a Letter of Support for the establishment of a new regional Veterans Treatment Court in District 3 to support veterans in Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties. The letter of support states in part, “the court would serve as an important cornerstone to providing vital support and rehabilitation services to our veterans and would provide an opportunity for veterans to address outstanding criminal offenses while accessing necessary treatment and support services.”

The Talbot County Council will hold a work session with the Planning Commission on Monday, September 23rd at 4:30 p.m. to discuss draft cannabis legislation and proposed legislation to address dissolved air flotation (DAF) byproducts.  The work session will be held in the Bradley Meeting Room and is open to the public.

The Council will meet with 2024 Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) President, John Olszewski, Jr,. and MACo Executive Director, Michael Sanderson, at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.

The Council’s next legislative session will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room located in the South Wing, Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street, Easton.  The meeting is open to the public.

council highlights council meetings cwsp roads facilities mental health behavioral health core service agency mid shore behavioral health