Wicomico County Council: Resolutions on courthouse windows, airport grants, equipment leases and budget timing clear; one appointment fails

The Wicomico County Council on Tuesday approved multiple budget and capital actions, accepted audit reports and advanced several projects while rejecting one appointment and postponing a lease decision at the Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport.

The council unanimously passed the following resolutions after public hearing or briefing: a capital budget amendment to finish the Old Courthouse window replacement (Resolution 60‑2025); a $100,000 capital line to support bidding for a Federal Aviation Administration construction grant at the regional airport (Resolution 61‑2025); distribution of remaining narcotics task force funds and $42,000 for radios for the state’s attorney’s office (Resolution 62‑2025); a piggyback agreement for tar‑and‑chip paving work (Resolution 63‑2025); extension of the statutory budget adoption date to allow more review time (Resolution 65‑2025); funding to reimburse the City of Salisbury $1.5 million for fire services rendered Jan.–Sept. 2024 (Resolution 66‑2025); approval of a lease‑purchase for a Gradall XL 5,100 (Resolution 67‑2025); and a sole‑source approval for justice software used by the State’s Attorney (Resolution 68‑2025).

Council also accepted two internal audit reports. After floor amendments the council voted to acknowledge, rather than ‘‘accept,’’ the Office of the Internal Auditor’s Safari at the Quarry special‑event audit and to remove language in the report that thanked management for “timely cooperation.” That amended resolution was approved unanimously (Resolution 49‑2025). A separate leave audit (Resolution 69‑2025) listing findings about compensatory time and payroll controls also passed unanimously.

An appointment to confirm an assistant director of administration (Resolution 64‑2025) failed on a recorded vote. The chair recorded the final tally as 5 in favor and 1 opposed.

The council postponed action on Resolution 59‑2025, a proposed 20‑year lease and operating agreement with Azure Flight Support SBY LLC to operate a fixed‑base operation at the regional airport. After more than an hour of public comment and a detailed staff briefing the council voted unanimously to postpone the lease for follow‑up with the company and additional information for current general‑aviation users.

What the council approved and how to read this list: the council’s capital budget submission filed by the county executive differs from the council’s adopted capital improvement program in some line items; the council’s motions removed some projects from PAYGO (pay‑as‑you‑go) and moved others to be financed by bonds.

Votes at a glance (selected actions): - Resolution 60‑2025 (old courthouse window project): public hearing held; motion carried — resolution passes (unanimous). Funds will transfer from completed project balances to continue window replacement work.

- Resolution 61‑2025 (FAA grant planning at Salisbury‑Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport): motion carried — resolution passes (unanimous). Adds a $100,000 capital project to cover design costs; $95,000 expected from FAA, $5,000 local match.

- Resolution 62‑2025 (narcotics task force funds and radios): motion carried — resolution passes (unanimous). Distributes $450,000 remaining narcotics task force funds to Maryland State Police, Salisbury PD and Fruitland PD, and authorizes $42,000 in capital funding for radios for the state’s attorney’s office.

- Resolution 59‑2025 (lease/operating agreement with Azure Flight Support SBY LLC): postponed by unanimous vote for additional information and follow‑up with the company and stakeholders before the council votes.

- Resolution 63‑2025 (paving agreement, piggyback on Howard County): motion carried — resolution passes (unanimous). Agreement covers approximately $2 million in tar‑and‑chip work scheduled across current and next fiscal year.

- Resolution 64‑2025 (confirm appointment of assistant director of administration): failed on recorded vote, final tally recorded as 5 in favor, 1 opposed.

- Resolution 65‑2025 (extend budget adoption date): motion carried — resolution passes (unanimous). Extends the statutory date for adopting the annual budget to allow additional council review.

- Resolution 66‑2025 (reimburse City of Salisbury for fire services Jan.–Sept. 2024): motion carried — resolution passes (unanimous). Authorizes $1,500,000 to fund fire service costs.

- Resolution 67‑2025 (lease/purchase of Gradall XL 5,100): motion carried — resolution passes (unanimous). The county will lease the machine under a 60‑month agreement with maintenance and service bundled into the lease; total lease payments were discussed on the record.

- Resolution 68‑2025 (sole source approval for justice software): motion carried — resolution passes (unanimous). Authorizes continued use of the specified vendor and software for the State’s Attorney’s Office.

- Resolution 49‑2025 (Safari at the Quarry audit): council amended language and voted to acknowledge the internal audit report as amended; amendment directed removal or modification of language thanking staff for “timely cooperation”; the council also attached a May 8 council letter as an exhibit and the amended motion passed unanimously.

- Resolution 69‑2025 (leave audit): motion carried — resolution passes (unanimous). Audit found multiple findings and recommended follow‑up; council directed follow‑up in future audit plans.

What’s next: the council asked staff for follow‑up information on the Azure lease (rates, minimum standards and impacts on general aviation users), additional details on capital costs for several multi‑year projects, and a timetable and memorandum of understanding for any forward funding the county may provide to the Board of Education for school projects.

Ending: Council members emphasized the need for clearer project descriptions in the capital improvement program and asked departments to provide specific cost and schedule details before final bond authorizations or PAYGO transfers.