St. Mary's County commissioners approve Project Graduation funding, authorize grant application and permit early-voting site; several appointments made

The St. Mary's County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a series of administrative actions including a $10,000 internal transfer to support Project Graduation, authorized a $28,750 Maryland Historical Trust Certified Local Government grant application (the county’s share $3,750), and agreed to let the St. Mary’s County Board of Elections use Room 14 in the Potomac Building for early voting in 2014.

The approvals, taken as separate motions during the commissioners’ weekly business meeting at the Chesapeake Building in Leonardtown, also included rescheduling a public hearing on proposed zoning text amendments concerning inflatable and above-ground pools, and a batch of appointments to advisory boards and committees.

Why it matters: the budget transfer preserves funding for the county’s long-running Project Graduation program that provides supervised, alcohol-free events for graduating seniors; the grant application would fund an archaeological sensitivity model of county lands; and the early-voting location establishes the county seat site for both the June primary and the November general election early-voting periods.

Votes at a glance

- Reschedule zoning public hearing: Commissioners voted to delete the 11:30 a.m. item on the agenda (proposed zoning text amendments to exempt inflatable and storable above-ground swimming pools from the requirements of the Saint Mary’s County Zoning Ordinance) and reschedule it to May 20, 2014. Motion by Commissioner Todd B. Morgan; second by Commissioner Daniel L. Morris. Outcome: approved (verbal vote: “Aye”).

- Approval of minutes (April 29, 2014): Motion to approve the minutes as presented was made and seconded; outcome approved (verbal vote: “Aye”).

- Project Graduation budget amendment: The board approved a budget amendment to transfer $10,000 in revenue and expense authority from the Drug Education Fund to the Project Graduation fund in the State’s Attorney’s Office. Motion by Commissioner Cynthia L. Jones; second by Commissioner Daniel L. Morris. Outcome: approved (verbal vote: “Aye”).

- Maryland Historical Trust Certified Local Government grant: The board authorized departmental staff to submit an electronic grant application for Federal Fiscal Year 2014 in the amount of $28,750 (county portion $3,750) to support an archaeological sensitivity study. Motion by Commissioner Daniel L. Morris; second by Commissioner Garbo. Outcome: approved (verbal vote: “Aye”).

- Memorandum of understanding (early voting site): The commissioners authorized the president to execute an MOU with the State Board of Elections to permit the location of an early voting center in Room 14 of the Potomac Building for the 2014 primary (early voting June 12–19, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; primary election June 24) and for the November cycle (early voting Oct. 23–30; general election Nov. 4). Motion by Commissioner Todd B. Morgan; second by Commissioner Jarvone. Outcome: approved (verbal vote: “Aye”).

- Appointments to boards and committees: The board approved a slate of appointments (Metropolitan Commission and members to the Transportation Advisory Committee, including non-voting ex officio members). Motion by Commissioner Jarvone; second by Commissioner Cynthia L. Jones. Outcome: approved (verbal vote: “Aye”).

What the commissioners and presenters said

Joseph Stanelonis, senior assistant state's attorney, described Project Graduation’s purpose and partners. “Project Graduation every year, at graduation time, we the state's attorney's office funds a program ... it's a non-alcohol, non-substance party that we provide for them, to keep them off the streets, so that there are no traffic fatalities on graduation night,” Stanelonis said. He told the board the program marks its 30th year and that about 1,400 students are expected to graduate this year; the Optimist Clubs supply food and buses and the Navy provides facility use.

Phil Shire, director of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management, introduced the Maryland Historical Trust grant request and said, “Our small portion of $3,750 will help leverage additional monies ... in order to conduct and enhance an archaeological survey.” Staff described the project as creating a first archaeological sensitivity model along portions of the Potomac River and toward Tall Timbers and St. Clement’s, focused on county-owned lands.

Bob Kelly, director of the Department of Emergency Services and Technology, presented the early-voting memorandum of understanding in George Sparling’s absence (the county attorney was not present). Kelly said the MOU would allow the county to “house that in the Potomac building room 14. June 12 through June 19th from 10 AM to 8 PM,” and described staff work preparing voting machines and providing IT support for early voting and election-day operations.

Procedural and community notes

- The board’s motion to reschedule the zoning text amendment public hearing was presented during agenda revisions at the start of the meeting; the item was set for the May 20, 2014 meeting.

- The commissioners heard the grant request in the presence of Historic Preservation Commission members and local historians; staff said the study would concentrate on county lands rather than state-owned properties such as Saint Francis.

- County staff asked the public to consider serving as election judges; the elections office phone number (301-475-7844) and the county website (saintmarysmd.com) were offered as contacts for volunteers.

Ending

Commissioners closed the regular business session after the appointments and brief commissioner remarks; the board reminded the public of a community forum at Bay District Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall that evening at 6:30 p.m.