Votes at a glance: St. Mary's commissioners approve grants, deed conveyance, hazard-mitigation MOA and park easements

The St. Mary’s County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 9 approved several items and authorized the county president to sign related agreements. Key approved items voted by the board include:

- Letter of intent for FY2011 Maryland Housing Rehabilitation Program: The board authorized a letter of intent to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development allowing the Housing Authority of St. Mary’s County to serve as a level 2 local administrator for the program. Staff said the state allocation listed was $37,000 but that local administrators historically access additional state funds not used elsewhere. The motion passed unanimously.

- FY2011 Title III Federal grant (interim award): The commissioners accepted an interim notification of grant award for Older Americans Act (Title III) programs in the amount of $123,838 to support home-delivered meals, congregate meals, caregiver support, ombudsman services and other senior programs, and approved a related budget amendment. The motion passed unanimously.

- Senior Medicare Patrol grant: The board accepted a Senior Medicare Patrol notification of grant award of $8,775 from the Maryland Department of Aging to support education on Medicare fraud and abuse; commissioners approved the award unanimously.

- Senior center operating grant (health/education/exercise programs): The board authorized submission/acceptance of the senior center operating grant application (project MD1118) for $16,625 to continue the Enhanced Fitness evidence-based exercise program across the county’s senior centers. Motion passed unanimously.

- Deed conveyance to the State Highway Administration for Chancellor’s Run Road widening: The board authorized execution of a deed conveying approximately 0.0387 acres (about 1,685 square feet) to the State Highway Administration for use in widening Maryland Route 237 (Chancellor's Run Road). The motion carried unanimously.

- Memorandum of agreement with Maryland Emergency Management Agency (Doctor Johnson Road project): The commissioners approved a MOA to accept a hazard-mitigation grant of $184,000 for the Doctor Johnson Road replacement project, with the county providing a 25% match (approximately $61,334). The work must be performed by April 30, 2013; the board approved the MOA and related budget realignment.

- Lease modification for John G. Lancaster Park (Civil War Memorial): The board authorized modification No. 2 to a U.S. government lease for John G. Lancaster Park to permit construction of a Civil War Memorial; commissioners praised volunteers and approved the modification unanimously.

- Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Park easement adjustments: The board authorized a new deed of easement for an acquired lot and a second modification to an existing deed of easement to allow park improvements previously restricted by historic easement language. The motion passed unanimously.

Each item on the consent/agenda that required board action was moved, seconded and approved during the meeting; where grant amounts, parcel sizes or deadlines were discussed, staff presented the numbers during the presentations.