Votes at a glance: Wicomico County Council passes code update, zoning and infrastructure resolutions; approves appointments

Wicomico County Council recorded multiple votes during its May 6, 2025 legislative session. Most items passed unanimously by voice or roll-call votes. Below are the actions taken at the meeting with key details and outcomes.

1) Legislative Bill 2025-05 (Building code update) - Action: Adopted an amendment to County Code Chapter 117 to adopt the 2021 International Residential Code, International Building Code and International Energy Conservation Code and to streamline future code updates. - Vote: Passed unanimously by roll call. - Authority: Legislative Bill 20 25-05.

2) Resolution 52-2025 (Comprehensive Water & Sewer Plan amendment: Reagan's Run Subdivision) - Action: Amended the 2009 Wicomico County Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan to designate a parcel on Riverside Drive for no planned sewer service to allow construction of a 10-lot subdivision with individual wells and septic systems. - Vote: Passed unanimously by voice vote. - Authority: Resolution 52-2025.

3) Resolution 53-2025 (Tower lease with Selco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless) - Action: Approved a lease to extend a tower structure by 20 feet and to place communications equipment at 21083 Cedar Hill Parkway; initial term five years with four five-year renewal options; initial annual base rent $24,400 adjusted 2% annually. - Vote: Passed unanimously by voice vote. - Authority: Resolution 53-2025.

4) Resolution 54-2025 (MDOT Consolidated Transportation Program priority letter) - Action: Approved the countys annual priority letter to the Maryland Department of Transportation for FY2026-FY2031 project priorities (system preservation, safety and planning projects). - Vote: Passed unanimously by voice vote. - Authority: Resolution 54-2025.

5) Resolution 55-2025 (Mosquito Control sole-source vendor) - Action: Authorized Clark Mosquito Control Products, Inc. as a sole-source vendor for the Clark Cougar ULB sprayer for the county mosquito-control program. This resolution carried a supermajority requirement; council approved it. - Vote: Passed unanimously (supermajority requirement met). - Authority: Resolution 55-2025 (SM).

6) Resolution 56-2025 (Council composition and districts) - Action: Amended Article 2 to create seven single-member councilmanic districts and require council candidates to reside in the district they seek; this action complied with a federal court consent decree resolving a voting-structure lawsuit. - Vote: Passed unanimously by voice vote. - Authority: Resolution 56-2025.

7) Appointments (Resolutions 57-2025 and 58-2025) - Action: Confirmed appointments of G. Matthew Drew to the School Building Commission and Georgetta L. Wainwright to the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance. - Vote: Both confirmations passed by voice vote. - Authority: Resolutions 57-2025 and 58-2025.

Administrative submissions and introductions - Legislative Bill 2025-06 (FY2026 budget and appropriation bill) was introduced and a public hearing was held the same evening; the council voted to introduce the bill unanimously. - The county executive submitted the nomination of William Holmes as Assistant Director of Administration; the submission was read and will follow the councils confirmation process.

How the council voted: Several items were adopted by unanimous voice vote; the building code update and the introduction of the FY2026 budget were recorded by roll-call, all members voting "aye." The Connolly Mill audit (Resolution 49-2025) was tabled by a 4-2 vote earlier in the meeting.

Next steps: Most adopted items will be implemented by the responsible county departments (Permits and Inspections, Public Works, Emergency Services, Mosquito Control, etc.). The FY2026 budget will return for final adoption under the county charter timetable. The tower lease and FBO/airport leasing items noted in work session will proceed to required public hearings and contract steps.