[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6379884,"mediaKeyId","2134656-9454655610e9586dcd067ae11aa763ec","parentId",2134656,"title","Votes at a glance: commissioners schedule hearings on electrical and golf-cart ordinances, approve grants and transfer bond authority","audioSeconds",844,"startMs",3627000,"endMs",4471000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2134656-9454655610e9586dcd067ae11aa763ec&start=3627&end=4471","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2134656-9454655610e9586dcd067ae11aa763ec/thumbnail_3627000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6379884/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-commissioners-schedule-hearings-on-electrical-and-golf-cart-ordinances-approve-grants-and-transfer-bond-authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379884-9271d793b1b485089cfd24d9fcdc9db8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173535&Signature=hqP36w7EL5QEbCgIZ4UajdumzL75xC2arBYlrQozgC5jTVSVjhM9GdgBT~YRNKbxaSVYzs9od~mD~4Kc6j1Q0hNDaXlc393g5airKsKABzVSiBqIMceflU93TLufdqKf2Fc331nndDZomw~htMqD6Czess8aVvCVUVPWV6kgsSP5fjTOdIymw1Na~FOqPJnJMw4wCoLetebJeZANuByUIRXgUXcFywnnYxPkbGD48ZcnGkZ9Ks4zEyqhsS~kn-fJmGU06wj7WvUSTH1n1fJvcM7tY~HHBAYgY6bCcwW5q95yJjj~ChJgnQITaLVkExdTXE4xU2D~-QqQaGgsisy3Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-01-21T13:53:11Z","article","St. Mary's County Commissioners on Aug. 22 took a series of procedural and budget-related actions: they revised local Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) grievance procedures by resolution, scheduled public hearings on two proposed ordinances (electrical services and golf-cart road designations), accepted multiple state grants for child-support operations and traffic enforcement, and authorized the transfer of private activity bond allocation authority to state agencies.

The board voted unanimously on all items recorded during the business session. Key actions included adoption of a revised ADA grievance procedure that moves appeal hearings to the county administrator or designee and aligns county language with U.S. Department of Justice guidance.

Catherine Praxton, Director of Human Resources, presented the ADA change, saying it follows Department of Justice recommendations and moves appeals to a higher-level official. \"Following the DOJ recommendation, the proposed revisions ... utilize a template provided by the Department of Justice and improve the process for the complainant,\" Praxton said. Commissioners voted to adopt the resolution.

The county attorney's office introduced a proposed electrical services ordinance to replace the repeal of Chapter 38 of the county code, which takes effect Oct. 1. George Brown, County Attorney, said the ordinance would recreate the Board of Electrical Examiners, continue local oversight and licensing of electricians, and could include a local electrical-permit requirement; he said the state and local exams and licensing processes would continue to operate during the transition. Commissioners authorized a public hearing on the proposed ordinance, proposed for Sept. 12.

A separate proposed ordinance would designate county roads where golf carts may be lawfully operated, implementing language in legislation introduced by Delegate Morgan that limits the privilege to roads posted at 35 mph or slower. County staff described a detailed list of local roads under consideration; staff also flagged safety and shoulder-width issues on Golden Beach Road and recommended public hearing discussion. The board authorized a public hearing on the golf-cart ordinance.

Several grants and agreements were accepted:
- The Fiscal Year 2018 Cooperative Reimbursement Agreement (Project US 1811) with the Maryland Department of Human Resources for the State's Attorney's Office child support division, $657,965, to support operational expenses.
- School Bus Safety Enforcement Grant (Project MD 1823), $16,000, designated for overtime enforcement of school-bus stop violations.
- Highway Safety Grant (Project US 1883), $42,500, for sobriety checkpoints, DUI patrols, aggressive-driving enforcement (ADAPT/Smooth Operator) and seatbelt enforcement.

Sheriff's Office and school transportation staff noted the county has five school buses equipped with red-light cameras; footage can be used to generate citations.

The board also agreed to transfer its private activity bond allocation authority back to the Maryland Department of Commerce ($1,621,059 non-housing allocation) and to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development ($3,782,471 housing allocation). Economic development staff said the allocations are bond authority, not direct funding, and the state programs can still use them for projects in St. Mary's County.

Other routine items approved included an amendment to the Family Violence Coordinating Council bylaws (meeting frequency changed from monthly to quarterly) and authorization for the commissioner president to sign an employment contract for a jurisdictional medical director. All recorded motions passed by unanimous vote of the commissioners present.

Summary of key votes (all recorded votes unanimous among commissioners present):
- ADA grievance procedure resolution: approved.
- Authorize public hearing on proposed electrical services ordinance (hearing proposed for Sept. 12): authorized.
- Authorize public hearing on proposed ordinance designating county highways for golf carts: authorized.
- Accept FY2018 Cooperative Reimbursement Agreement (child support) Project US 1811, $657,965: accepted.
- Accept School Bus Safety Enforcement Grant Project MD 1823, $16,000: accepted.
- Accept Highway Safety Grant Project US 1883, $42,500: accepted.
- Transfer private activity bond allocations to state agencies: authorized ($1,621,059 non-housing; $3,782,471 housing).
- Amend Family Violence Coordinating Council bylaws (monthly to quarterly meetings): approved.
- Authorize employment contract for jurisdictional medical director: approved.

Several items introduced for public hearing will return to the board after advertised public hearings and additional staff review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","8/22/2017 Commissioners of St. Mary's County","oneSentenceSummary","At the Aug. 22 meeting the St. Mary's County commissioners scheduled public hearings on a proposed electrical services ordinance and a golf-cart road-designation ordinance, approved an ADA grievance-procedure resolution, accepted several grants and transferred private activity bond allocations back to state agencies.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6379889,"St. Mary's County adopts 2017 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan; Snow Hill Park cited for increased water access",1129,1824000,2953000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2134656-9454655610e9586dcd067ae11aa763ec&start=1824&end=2953","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2134656-9454655610e9586dcd067ae11aa763ec/thumbnail_1824000.jpg","/articles/6379889/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-adopts-2017-Land-Preservation-Parks-and-Recreation-Plan-Snow-Hill-Park-cited-for-increased-water-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379889-81dfb36d8db8e1ec38811900e41059b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173535&Signature=ENICu~sVIi7fMkNeFReg8KmNB70WvWcXJmfA5rtpGt4g8GGr5jSB~3cgQUt9fHJuA9sQWLiXcRhAQ0TI7Vlp5XAThTBUUTVHAKA3ATBk0ITiCSFWjFVf8yVHpQLqZVDfS4fpBlUYLmxOr1Eypq0N8wiif1bOthyadB9~GQgYJbXSN8V9XufN~mz3kIpcIY6yoJAWs~konMm~oJNUAmJe5jfRjC4Gb7MDJKHhjN9-GmVPu5DhIGdGfEmWlfnYjDDtrfF2r2SmDUkFVjB3yCuL92LQio-cVuLb9XZZg6~k5DyyKtSmmj~HSfcSNjFmmkjZnNfdllCH3NqNpLj2khbBWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County Commissioners on Aug. 22 unanimously adopted the 2017 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan, a five-year update required by state statute that keeps the county eligible for Program Open Space funding.

The plan updates inventories, goals and priorities for parks, recreation and agricultural preservation and reflects state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) comments received earlier this year. Arthur Shepherd, director of Recreation and Parks, told commissioners the county has met its acreage and acquisition goal largely because of the March acquisition and July opening of Snow Hill Park.

\"The county has met its acreage and acquisition goal,\" Arthur Shepherd, Director of Recreation and Parks, said during the meeting. He and Adam Boston, the Greenplay consultant who presented the plan, noted the plan is the product of staff and stakeholder outreach and an online survey that drew about 1,400 responses.

Adam Boston, a representative of Greenplay, said the update is required by state law and is necessary to remain qualified for about $370,000 a year in Program Open Space funding that the county has received between 2012 and 2017. \"The Land Preservation Parks and Recreation Plan is required by state statute,\" Boston said.

The presentation highlighted two recent acquisitions: Snow Hill Park and a Shannon Farm parcel. The county's overall park and open-space inventory increased by about 83 acres after the McIntosh Run Wildlife Management Area was added to the inventory at the state's request. The plan also reiterates long-term agricultural goals, including a previously adopted target to preserve 60,000 acres of farmland set in the county's 2010 comprehensive plan.

Commissioner Mike Hewitt praised work on new boat launch and waterfront access projects but relayed resident concerns about signage, parking and potential conflicts between people launching boats and those fishing or crabbing from shore. \"They said, '...can we set up some kind of rules and regulations as to if a boat comes in obviously it...has priority,'\" Hewitt said, describing feedback from residents near Clark's Landing.

Shepherd and other staff told commissioners Recreation and Parks will address signage, staffing at high-use launches during peak times, bilingual signs where appropriate and routine trash pickup at busy access points. Commissioners also discussed capital improvement priorities, maintenance needs at existing facilities such as Dorsey Park and the importance of aligning limited borrowing authority with highest-return projects.

After questions and brief discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt the plan and to authorize the Recreation and Parks director to make minor edits reflecting that the county has met its state land acquisition goal. The motion passed unanimously.

The adopted plan becomes part of the county's comprehensive plan by reference and will guide park, recreation and conservation work and state grant eligibility for the next five years.","County commissioners unanimously adopted the five-year Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan, noting Snow Hill Park and other recent acquisitions helped the county meet state acreage goals and improve public water access.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: commissioners schedule hearings on electrical and golf-cart ordinances, approve grants and transfer bond authority

St. Mary's County adopts 2017 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan; Snow Hill Park cited for increased water access