https://townhallstreams.com/stream.php?location_id=153&id=65766

Attendees:  George Pfeffer, President; Mike Detmer, Vice President; Rob Kramer, Jr; William Nichols; Ricky Travers; Jerry Jones, County Manager; Irene Barnes, Administrative Specialist; Charles MacLeod, Attorney

Open Session:  Called to order at 6:07 PM

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

Closed Session Summary

Mr. Pfeffer reported on the closed session, covering a personnel matter and legal advice.

Consent Agenda

The Consent Agenda was approved.

• County Council Open Session Minutes – February 18, 2025
• Accounts Payable Disbursement Report – Week Ending February 28, 2025
• Intradepartmental Budget Transfer Request – Emergency Medical Services
• Request for Proposals – Mowing Services – Public Works
• Stormwater Management Agreement – Public Works
• Surplus Request – Vehicles/Equipment – Public Works
• Letter of Support – FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending – Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay –
• Economic Development
• Letter of Support – Maryland Historic Trust Grant Application – Cambridge Woman’s Club

Commendations: Pageant Winners – National Outdoor Show – Miss National Outdoor Show, Little Miss Outdoor Show, and Little Mister Outdoor Show were given commendation letters.

Presentation: FY 2026 Annual Transportation Plan.  Grant application from Delmarva Community Services. Andrea Watters, Grant Specialist.  The grant application is for the following amounts.

• Operating funds for public transportation totaling $1,577,377, of which $394,344 is requested from local funds.
• Transportation of the elderly and disabled totaling $334,218, of which $83,554 will be local.
• ADA funds totaling $55,556, of which $5,566 will be local.
• Preventive maintenance for the buses totaling $50,000, of which $7,500 will be local.
• Propane conversion totaling $77,000, of which $11,550 will be local.

Legislative session:

Public Hearing  – 911 Fee Increase  – Bill No. 2025-2

AN ACT OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF DORCHESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND PURSUANT TO MD. CODE ANN., PUBLIC SAFETY § 1-311 TO AMEND CHAPTER 85 – EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CHARGE, § 85-1 OF THE DORCHESTER COUNTY CODE BY INCREASING THE 911 FEE FOR DORCHESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND TO $2.00 PER MONTH.

Vice President Detmer engaged the council in discussing how the 911 emergency telephone fee is collected by the telephone service providers, forwarded to the State Public Services Commission, and then sent back to the counties based on the location of the phone account owner. Mr. Detmer explained that the Dorchester County fees did not seem reasonable. The most recent detailed data provided by the PSC is from 2021, and there is no apparent way to audit the money trail. Inquiries will be made. The bill had a second reading to raise the fee to $2 per line and was moved and approved.

Action items:

• Bid Award – County Towing Services – Public Works. Public Services requested a competitively bid contract for county towing services – Approved.
• Interdepartmental Budget Transfer Request – Finance – Approved transfer of $51k
• Renewal Request – Medical Services Contract – Corrections – Approved for ~$1.278M/yr.
• Mosquito Control Budget Agreement – Maryland Department of Agriculture – Approved for $497,750.
• Chesapeake College requested to use their fund balance to engage a 10-year facilities master plan consultant, not to exceed $242,550. Approved 4 -1 Mr. Detmer nay.
• Request to send a letter from the county to the state legislature opposing the solar bill SB 931. Mr. Pfeffer and Mr. Detmer journeyed to Annapolis last Friday to meet with the legislature to discuss county priorities. Approved.
• Received feedback that the Congressionally Directed Spending Projects (earmarks) that were approved and forwarded at the last meeting and were returned for not meeting the requirements of the request. The three projects were: rehabilitating sewer lines and pumps stations, design and study of a potential Hoopers Island Causeway, and moving the Dorchester County Department of Health operation to Race Street. The projects must map to a grant program for which the county is qualified. The county will seek other possibilities.
• For All Seasons requested a letter of support for an earmark to acquire property at 111 East Dover Street, Easton, to expand services. – Approved.
• Delmarva Community Services requested the county release the lien placed on 709 Church Street, Cambridge. This was one property in the 2018 agreement allowing DCS to acquire properties, renovate them, and sell them. The property is ready for sale. – Approved.
• Policy amendment to collect real property taxes annually rather than biannually when a property is transferred. Approved.
• Request from CWDI to rebate taxes paid earlier on abated properties. Approved.
• Letter of support for the sheriff’s department grant application. Approved.

Council Comments:

• Mr. Travers commented on the brush fires that have occurred in the county in the last three days, including at Blackwater National Wildlife Park. Asked that the county manager and county attorney press the Board of Education to complete a land transfer agreement for a parcel on Glasgow Street.
• Mr. Detmer thanked the firefighters who have been fighting the brush fires. It appears that the solar bill SB931 will be significantly amended.
• Mr. Pfeffer announced that several county charter changes on last year’s ballot as referendum cannot be implemented because the county did not advertise them correctly. The county will seek alternative means to achieve its goals.

Public Comments

• Laurel Atkiss encouraged citizens to stay involved in local matters, especially the CWDI development of Cambridge Harbor.
• Terri Robbins asked and was assured that the boat races would occur.

Adjournment: 7:20 pm

Notes taken by  Sharon Smith, CAN. Edited by K. Miller.