Commissioner Hewitt proposes exemption from Metcom capital charges for public projects; Metcom seeks technical code updates

Commissioners of St. Mary's County on Sept. 9 discussed two related items affecting the Metropolitan Commission (Metcom): a proposal from Commissioner Mike Hewitt to exempt public projects from Metcom’s capital contribution charges, and Metcom’s own corrective bill that would update several sections of local law governing Metcom operations.

Commissioner Hewitt outlined a proposal aimed at exempting projects that are undertaken by a public entity — the county, a municipality or state instrumentality — or that are placed on county-owned land for a public purpose, from capital contribution charges when purchasing or reserving Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) to connect to Metcom water and sewer. Hewitt said county departments have paid capital contribution fees in the past — he cited roughly $290,000 over the past five years as a conservative estimate from internal records when the county itself was listed as applicant — and said exempting public projects would bring the county closer to peer jurisdictions and avoid charging taxpayer funds to connect county-owned public facilities.

Hauser said the idea needs further study with Metcom, because exempting certain projects from capital contributions could reduce Metcom revenue and shift costs to other ratepayers. He recommended county staff and Metcom discuss the proposal’s fiscal impact and return to the commissioners with concrete language and analysis.

Metcom’s corrective bill, presented by county staff with Metcom board materials, contains a set of technical and administrative updates Metcom requests be reflected in local law. Highlights include updating the required bond amounts for Metcom’s treasurer/deputy treasurer to reflect current practice, changing a statutory “shall” requirement for studies and plans to a “may” to reduce procedural overreach for routine infrastructure work, and increasing maximum civil-infraction and misdemeanor fines (Metcom requested raising certain fine caps from $100 to $1,000). Metcom also requested a consolidated list of misdemeanor offenses and a clarified civil-infraction fine schedule with escalation for repeat or continuing violations.

George Erickson, Metcom’s executive director, was in the meeting space and staff indicated the items had been vetted by the Metcom board prior to transmittal. County staff and commissioners agreed that the exemption proposal and Metcom’s corrective bill should be discussed jointly with Metcom leadership so both sides understand the fiscal and operational consequences; county staff was directed to meet with Metcom and return to the commissioners on Sept. 23 with recommendations and any draft language.

No formal votes were taken Sept. 9. Commissioners asked staff to prepare fiscal impact information and alternative drafting approaches (mandatory exemption, permissive exemption, or targeting only specific public uses) so the board can decide whether to include any Metcom-related language in the Sept. 23 legislative package to send to the county’s Annapolis delegation.