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Commissioners approve library/senior center consolidation, pool scope change, Verizon lease reassignment and other motions
Summary
At their May 16, 2017 meeting the St. Mary's County commissioners approved several administrative and capital actions including combining Leonardtown Library and Garvey Senior Center projects, changing the Great Mills Pool enclosure plan, consenting to a tower-lease reassignment, and approving grant applications and small budget amendments.
The Commissioners of St. Mary's County took multiple discrete actions during their May 16, 2017 meeting in Leonardtown, approving budget amendments, project scope changes and administrative updates. The items below summarize motions made, vote outcomes as recorded in the meeting, and immediate next steps noted by staff.
Votes at a glance
- Leonardtown Library and Garvey Senior Center: The board voted to combine the two capital projects (1601 and 1603) into a single new capital project (1610) titled "Leonardtown Library and Garvey Senior Center." Motion passed by voice vote; the agenda materials show the project design at roughly 70 percent complete and construction anticipated in FY2018. Staff noted a contingency at roughly 10 percent of cost at this design stage; commissioners discussed contingency purpose and timing.
- Great Mills Pool structure: Commissioners approved a change in scope for project RP1703, replacing the previously planned permanent steel frame structure with an air-inflated bubble enclosure and moved $250,000 from project reserves back into the project. Presenters said the bubble option is less costly and the pool serves roughly 35,000 annual visitors, swim teams and adaptive-aquatics programs. Motion passed by voice vote.
- Verizon land-lease reassignment: The board authorized a consent-to-assignment that allows Insight Towers to assume the ground lease originally negotiated with Cellco (a Verizon subsidiary) for a tower site at Dorsey Park; staff said the county's fiscal terms do not change and the county will begin receiving lease payments (approximately $24,000 annually) when construction begins. Motion passed by voice vote.
- Emergency Solutions Grant application: The commissioners approved an application to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for the Emergency Solutions Grant (federal FY2017 / state FY2018) in the amount of $145,000. Staff said, if awarded, Angel's Watch would receive $29,000 and 3 Oaks Center would receive $116,000; subrecipient agreements and documentation would return to the county if funding is received. Motion passed by voice vote.
- Commission for Women budget amendment: Commissioners approved a budget amendment to cover excess revenues and related expenses for the annual Commission for Women banquet and to provide a donation to the Jane Hale Cypher Scholarship Fund at the College of Southern Maryland; the amendment established $3,981 in revenue/expense authority as presented. Motion passed by voice vote.
- Economic Development Commission bylaws: The commissioners approved an amendment to the St. Mary's County Economic Development Commission bylaws to change regular meetings from monthly to quarterly. Staff said the EDC completed its work on the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and recommended the change.
- Chapter 254 amendment (definition of agricultural operations): A motion to adopt a proposed amendment to chapter 254 of the Code of St. Mary's County to revise the definition of "agricultural operation" was moved and seconded and discussed; the public record shows a public hearing on related matters had been held May 2. The transcript indicates the board recessed shortly after the motion was offered and a final recorded vote on this specific amendment was not clearly captured in the transcript extract provided; outcome therefore recorded here as not specified pending the official minutes.
Several items included short presentations by department directors and department staff and drew limited discussion from commissioners before votes were taken. When votes were recorded in the transcript, they were unanimous as indicated by the board's voice responses.
Next steps: for projects that advanced (library/senior center, pool, Verizon lease, Emergency Solutions Grant and Commission for Women amendment), staff are responsible for implementing the budget amendments, pursuing bids or grant subrecipient agreements, and returning to the board with further documentation as required by county procedures.
