LEONARDTOWN, Md. – The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC) held their latest business meeting, beginning with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the approval of the consent agenda. The meeting covered key legislative updates, federal funding requests, and budget planning, alongside proclamations recognizing community initiatives.
Proclamations and Recognitions
The commissioners presented proclamations in recognition of National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the Anniversary of the Senior Nutrition Program, and Women’s History Month. These proclamations acknowledge the contributions and needs of various segments of the community.
County Administrator Updates
During the County Administrator portion of the meeting, the commissioners reviewed upcoming meeting agendas and took action on several funding and grant initiatives. Among the key decisions, the commissioners approved updates to the county’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to reflect additional grant funding. They also approved federal funding request letters for the Congressionally Directed Spending Request, also known as earmarks, for the YMCA project.
The YMCA has been a top priority for the commissioners regarding federal earmark requests for the past three years. Some commissioners expressed concerns about not being involved in the earmark request selection process in time to evaluate additional county funding needs. However, the funding request moved forward, as federal representatives have been made aware of the project’s significance.
Additionally, the commissioners approved the Department of Emergency Services’ application for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2024 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Funding for an update to the county’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The total anticipated grant amount is $45,000, requiring a $15,000 match from the county. If the county does not receive the grant, it will be responsible for covering the full cost of the plan update.
Legislative Updates and Commissioner Time
The commissioners received a legislative update from the County Attorney’s Office, which covered ongoing legislation that could impact St. Mary’s County. While the commissioners reviewed multiple legislative measures, no official positions were taken during the session.
During Commissioner Time, individual commissioners discussed various community initiatives and events. One of the highlighted programs was Christmas in April St. Mary’s County, which is celebrating its 35th year of assisting local residents with home repairs and improvements.
Budget Work Session and Upcoming Meetings
In the afternoon, the commissioners reconvened for a Budget Work Session, where they discussed funding requests from elected officials and continued planning for the upcoming fiscal year.
The next business meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the CSMC Meeting Room, located on the first floor of the Chesapeake Building at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown. That afternoon at 1:30 p.m., the commissioners will hold another Budget Work Session.
Meetings are open to the public and can be viewed live on St. Mary’s County Government TV (SMCG Channel 95) or streamed on demand via the county’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@StMarysCoGov. Meeting decisions and related documents are available on the county website through BoardDocs.
