Dorchester County Council approves consent items, board appointments and highway priorities

The Dorchester County Council met April 2 in Cambridge and approved a series of consent and action items including minutes, disbursements, budget transfers and multiple appointments.

Council President George L. Pfeffer, Jr. called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. The council voted to amend and approve the agenda to add a 2020 Grant Adjustment Notice for the State Homeland Security Program and a letter of support for a Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development rehabilitation application for the Packing House at 411 Dorchester Avenue.

Under the consent agenda the council approved the March 19, 2024 minutes, the presented vouchers, and a FY24 budget transfer request for Recreation & Parks. The council also approved renewing the lease for Airport Terminal Office #8 with iValue LED Light, LLC for a 24-month term with an optional one‑year extension; and authorized the transfer of Dorchester County's 2024 tax-exempt housing bond allocation of $1,431,763 to the Community Development Administration for the CDA Maryland Mortgage Program, per a written request from Kamili Jamal Brown of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

The council approved a requested continuation of emergency HVAC repairs at the Public Safety Building's 911 Center by Gannon's Refrigeration Services, Inc., at a cost of $36,175 plus $3,750 for required electrical work, funded from the FY24 operating budget contractual services line item. The council also approved surplusing a 2014 Ford Explorer from the Sheriff's Office and accepted a Grant Adjustment Notice reducing the 2020 State Homeland Security Program award from $103,000 to $93,932.30 to reflect actual costs.

The council made multiple local appointments including two new Social Services Board members—Shana Morgan and Lucas Thorpe—effective April 15, 2024 through April 15, 2027, and additional appointments to agricultural, electrical, and seafood reconciliation committees.

The council presented retirement commendations to Christopher Tolley and Randy Lewis and recognized Katelyn Robinson as Teacher of the Year and Jordan Lewis and Haley Wright as First Class Teachers of the Year. Proclamations were issued declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and April 14–20, 2024 as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

In other business the council awarded a bid to Lane Enterprises to supply aluminized Type 2 metal pipe and HDPE drainage pipe for the Public Works department for one year with an optional extension, and agreed to provide letter(s) of support for a federal H-2B seafood exemption bill and a DHCD Neighborhood Business Works application for the Packing House, with a clause that any letter would not obligate the county to provide funding.

Council members used the meeting to raise local infrastructure and personnel issues. Public Works Director Dave Edwards confirmed several traffic and drainage sites are under review, and Interim County Manager Jeff Powell said the council will post a vacancy for a seat on the Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc. board. Two public commenters raised drainage concerns for Wesley Church Road and emphasized teacher retention and safety as priorities for the school system.

With no further business, the council adjourned.