St. Mary's County commissioners approve courthouse security grant, aging-services solicitation, arts council designation and parks director hire

St. Mary's County commissioners on Jan. 14 unanimously approved a set of administrative actions including a courthouse security grant, a provider solicitation for aging services, designation of the county arts council as the official county arts agency, and the employment contract for the new director of recreation and parks.

The actions were taken during the regular meeting at the Leonardtown commissioners' chambers. The most substantial funding action accepted was a courthouse security equipment grant from the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts for the Circuit Court for St. Mary's County in the amount of $201,963, which presenters said will fund a building-wide intercom system controlled from the court's basement control room.

County attorney's office staff and presenters noted the grant was awarded through the state's administrative office of the courts and will pay for intercom equipment and related courthouse security improvements. Donna Sweeney, filling in for Judge Joseph Stanellonis, told commissioners, "We are here to present the circuit court security equipment grant award from the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts on behalf of the Circuit Court for St. Mary's County, Maryland for the courthouse security improvements in the amount of $201,963." A commissioner moved approval; the motion passed with a voice vote of "Aye." The motion authorized the commission president to execute related documents.

Also approved was the Department of Aging and Human Services' FY25 provider solicitation for comprehensive case management and support planning services. Laurie Jennings Harris, director of the Department of Aging and Human Services, described the solicitation as an outline of the agency's responsibilities to coordinate services that help residents remain in their homes, including waiver programs and durable medical equipment coordination. The commission voted to approve the solicitation and to authorize the commission president to execute related documents.

The board also adopted a resolution designating the St. Mary's County Arts Council as the county's official arts agency so the council can apply for state arts grants. County attorney Buffie Giddens introduced Susie Glownor, executive director of the St. Mary's County Arts Council, who told commissioners the Maryland State Arts Council is standardizing its agreements with county arts agencies and requested formal designation to continue grant eligibility. The resolution passed unanimously.

Finally, commissioners approved an employment contract for Ray Bivens as director of Recreation and Parks, with a reported start date of Jan. 27. The commission president and other members praised Bivens' background, including prior work at Point Lookout State Park and as director of recreation and parks in Delaware.

Votes at a glance: - Circuit Court security equipment grant (MD-2536): motion to accept $201,963 grant and authorize commission president to execute documents — approved (voice vote). - FY25 provider solicitation, comprehensive case management and support planning services: motion to approve and authorize execution — approved (voice vote). - Resolution designating St. Mary's County Arts Council as official county arts agency: motion to adopt and authorize signature — approved (voice vote). - Employment contract for director of Recreation and Parks (Ray Bivens): motion to approve and authorize execution — approved (voice vote).

Most votes were approved by unanimous voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting minutes.