MINUTES
JANUARY 17, 2011
Present: President Larry
C. Porter; Vice President Wilbur Levengood, Jr.; Member Jefferson L. Ghrist;
A moment of silence
was observed and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
President Porter called for public comment and there were none.
Internal Legislative Committee Report
and
Legislative Workshop regarding Administrative
Variances Ordinance: Ms. Freeman stated that the Planning
Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals has reviewed and unanimously
recommended approval of the Ordinance.
She stated that it would offer residential property owners not in the
critical area seeking variances of mathematical measurements less than 20 %, a
shorter and lesser expensive variance process.
On motion by Mr. Ghrist, seconded by Mr. Levengood, the Commissioners
unanimously authorized scheduling an additional legislative day the following
week, and directed staff to prepare the introduction of the Ordinance for
January 24, 2012, along with the proposed nuisance ordinance.
Discussion of Home Based Businesses: Ms. Freeman
stated that the discussion is being prompted by a particular seasonal business
in the R-Rural zoning district is seeking to expand to year round with the hopes
of adding employees and the Code only allows home-based businesses to employ
family members. She stated that in order
to maintain the integrity of the residential neighborhood, the Commissioners
could consider permitting employees on a seasonal basis, or do as Talbot and
Queen Anne’s Counties do which is to allow for certain Cottage Industries. President Porter stated that the balance is
to encourage small businesses to begin and grow without becoming unfairly advantaged
against commercial businesses.
President
Porter called for public comment, and Glenn
Blough, owner, Blough Seafood, stated that he has been a waterman for many
years, and that four years ago he began selling live crabs from his
residence. Customers began to request
the crabs be steamed, and that was how the business began to grow. Eventually he began offering other fresh
caught seafood including oysters and fish and the Environmental Health
Department began to require compliance with certain regulations expected of
commercial businesses. He stated that he
is complying with the Health Department and making the improvements requested
such as septic upgrades and installation of a restroom facility. Mr. Blough stated that the County has many
small businesses that employ a few people under the table and that expanding
the employment provision would benefit the County overall by increasing tax
dollars and encouraging compliance with the law.
Don Wilson, Director, Environmental
Health, stated that he has been
working with Mr. Blough for some time to bring the building he operates the
business out of into compliance. He
discussed the implications of septic capacity on small business owners.
On
motion by Mr. Ghrist, seconded by Mr. Levengood, the Commissioners unanimously
directed staff to begin the textual amendment process to allow home-based
businesses to hire up to a certain number of employees.
Discussion of the County’s
participation in the Maryland Association of Counties: President
Porter stated that staff has expressed support to him over remaining a member
of MACo, particularly due to its policy support and
affiliate programs. Ms. Visintainer
agreed, and stated that the fee is based upon population, and Caroline’s dues
amount to $14,495 and expire June 30, 2012.
Mr. Crofoot stated that legislatively speaking, Caroline could
accomplish more as members than independently, and cited the success of the
Rural Counties Forum that Caroline has spearheaded. He recommended retaining membership, but
work to implement the changes the Commissioners would like to see, to which
they each agreed. The Commissioners also
decided to reduce conference attendance and associated expenses in next year’s
budget.
Discussion of the potential transfer
of the Ridgely Business and
Action Agenda:
·
The open and
closed session minutes of January 10, 2012 were approved by unanimous consent;
·
Purchase order
#57517 to Peninsula Oil and Propane in the amount of $604,936.50 for a one year
extension on the fuel contract was approved by unanimous consent;
·
Purchase order
#57527 to State Highway Administration in the amount of $58,238.92 for
engineering costs for the
·
A Contingency
Resolution in the amount of $376.88 to the Office of the Public Defender for
trial transcripts was approved by unanimous consent;
·
The amended
employment contract for a grant funded Department of Recreation and
·
The letter to
Senator Miller regarding his remarks about
·
The request for
permission to apply for Federal Fiscal Year 2010 State Homeland Security
Program Grant was approved by unanimous consent;
·
The request for
permission to apply for FFY2010 Citizen Corps Program Grant was approved by
unanimous consent; and
·
The Employment Agreements
for part-time Emergency Medical Services personnel were approved by unanimous
consent.
·
BZA attorney for
the County has returned to work following major surgery and an opinion on the
Trice v. Nichols case will be approved in February;
·
I testified
before the General Assembly for two bills and bill review begins next Monday;
·
I’ll begin
reviewing Shirt Factory grant materials this week and expect to complete review
of the Adkins Arboretum materials this week as well;
·
County continues
to review Indemnity Deed of Trusts for transactional validity; and
·
No bids were
received for the
·
The Differential Workgroup met and will continue
working on a policy recommendation;
·
A bid has been received for relocation of the 911
Communications Center. Staff is
continuing to fine tune the engineering bid request;
·
The food steamer at the detention center has failed
again, and on motion by Mr. Levengood, seconded by Mr. Ghrist, the
Commissioners unanimously authorized Mr. Decker to purchase a new one; and
·
I am arranging a County road tour for the
Commissioners to embark on in the near future.
Commissioners’ comments:
·
Mr.
Porter and Mr. Levengood attended the Martin Luther King Day On Celebration;
and
·
Mr.
Ghrist had no additional comments.
President
Porter called for public comment
and there were none.
There
being no further business, the Commissioners adjourned their meeting at 11:33 a.m.
_____________________________
Amy L. Kreiner