On Tuesday, July 13, Deputy County Administrator Deborah Hall and Department of Planning and Growth Management Director Deborah Carpenter provided an update on the Community Stormwater Management Priorities. Charles County Government and the Charles County Resilience Authority are working to resolve issues with private stormwater systems which would ordinarily be the responsibility of the landowner.
To initiate the concept and get an idea of the scale of the problem, staff identified about 100 neighborhoods that pre-date the stormwater ordinance, with private stormwater systems that had known problems as determined by consistent complaints of flooding and had no county-owned easements or maintenance agreements. The County Commissioners provided support to the prioritization method presented and voted to allow the Resilience Authority to act as project lead and procurement entity.
- Charles County Health Officer Dr. Dianna E. Abney and Department of Emergency Services Director Michelle Lilly provided an update on COVID-19 in Charles County. There are a variety of vaccination clinics in the community, which include mobile pop-up clinics, schools, congregate living facilities, churches, and vaccines for the homebound. Residents can make their own vaccination appointments and walk-ins are accepted. Appointments are available for those 12 and older who would like to receive the Pfizer vaccine through the Department of Health. For a list of county vaccination clinics, visit the Department of Health’s website. For a list of pharmacies and other vaccination clinics available, visit the State of Maryland’s website. Chief of Media Services Jennifer Harris provided an update on the county’s communications efforts, which are focused on informing residents about the importance and availability of COVID-19 vaccinations. Charles County Public Schools Director of School Safety and Security Jason Stoddard provided an update, which included summer school and COVID-19 testing and staff will continue updating their COVID-19 protocols this summer and for the 2021-22 school year which begins on August 30, 2021.
- Department of Planning and Growth Management staff, Department of Public Works staff, and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office provided a presentation on the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program. The Traffic Safety Committee recommended to make no changes to the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program eligibility criteria regarding emergency response routes at this time.
Approval Items
Commissioners also approved:
- A fiscal 2021 budget transfer request of $154,170 to complete VanGO bus purchase in fiscal 2022.
- A fiscal 2022 budget amendment increase of $32,620 to replace platform used for the Board meetings.
- A letter of endorsement for preservation of the Historic African American Carroll Family Farm.
- A letter of support for the Rural Maryland Council Grant Application to support the renovation of the Maryland Technology Center.
- A letter of support for the Tri County Council for Southern Maryland Healthcare Grant for Wheels to Wellness Program and for the Area Council on Aging to send a letter of support as well.
- A letter of consent for the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
- A letter of support for the Friends of Maxwell Hall to apply to the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historic Trust grant to create museum space at Maxwell Hall.
- Proposed articles of incorporation of the Resilience Authority of Charles County.
- The draft calendar 2022 Board of County Commissioners’ Schedule.
- A request to set a public hearing for the Amendment to the 2016 Comprehensive Plan for the land surrounding the Maryland Airport for Wednesday, Sept 22 at 6 p.m.
- A request to set a public hearing for Zoning Text Amendment 20-03 Hungerford Property for Wednesday, Sept 22 at 6 p.m.
- Introduce Bill 2021-04 Zoning Text Amendment Processing Facility Transfer Station for solid waste in the IH zone and a request to set a public hearing for Wednesday, Sept 22 at 6 p.m.
Follow-Up Work Session
County Commissioners and the Department of Planning and Growth Management staff participated in a follow-up work session on Bill 2021-02 Zoning Text Amendment 19-154 Single-Family Attached Residential and Multi-Family. Staff proposed to amend 11 articles within the zoning text amendment. County Commissioners raised concerns associated with reducing the existing masonry percentage, the fire retardancy of proposed alternate materials, the future maintenance/ durability of proposed alternate materials, and any impacts on property values. Staff will provide additional information on these concerns at a follow-up work session.
Next Commissioners Session: July 27, 2021 (held virtually)
Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.