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Maryland’s General Assembly will be back in session in a few months, and to prepare the St. Mary’s County commissioners held a vote at Tuesday’s meeting in Leonardtown on legislative proposals they want to move forward.
A total of 15 requests for legislative action in the 2025 General Assembly were presented to the commissioners at the Sept. 17 meeting, including one each from Director of Emergency Services Jenn Utz, Chief Information Officer Bob Kelly, Director of Economic Development Chris Kaselemis and Sheriff Steve Hall (R). Commissioners Scott Ostrow (R) and Eric Colvin (R) also each had one proposal.
Ten of the requests were approved, including the local animal control statute to allow for greater flexibility in any future revisions to the St. Mary’s County Animal Control Ordinance, and a request by the planning commission to repeal a portion of the Environment Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, which would give the county the ability to streamline the process by which an applicant may request an amendment or revision of the county’s Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan.
“I like that idea,” Commissioner Mike Hewitt (R) said.
Ostrow proposed including St. Mary’s to the list of counties — which include Charles and Calvert — in which roadside solicitations of money and donations are prohibited.
Deputy County Attorney John Sterling Houser said two public comments had been received on the proposal, while another anonymous comment raised the constitutionality of the proposal banning panhandling.
Houser added it is “not a fully settled area of the law and there are disputes about it across the country.”
Houser added that should it pass, enforcement would be by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.
“I think it’s a safety issue,” said Commissioner Mike Hewitt (R), who added he sees much of the issue at the Route 235 and Route 4 intersection. “Maybe we should point out certain intersections where it can’t happen and intersections where it could. If we’re going to say it’s for safety then I think prohibiting it at that intersection is an adequate argument.”
“You step off that curb on the median or slip,” Ostrow said, adding he’s seen children in the center median. “That’s a bad day all around.”
“I don’t think we should allow it at all,” Commissioner President Randy Guy (R) said. “It’s a hazard anywhere. It’s definitely a safety thing.”
The commissioners also approved an initiative to install “charge cubes” that would allow the St. Mary’s airport to be among the first installations in Maryland capable of servicing eVTOL aircraft and electric trainer aircraft.
A request by the Rev. Robert Hahn requesting legislation directing the state to appropriate funding to support Feed St. Mary’s and End Hunger food initiatives in Calvert County was also OK’d.
Other approved requests from outside governmental agencies included to increase the maximum civil penalty imposed upon a business holding an alcoholic beverage license from $1,000 to $2,500 and for the St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Office to establish day reporting, inpatient treatment, and pretrial supervision and release programs at the detention center.
A proposal was approved for the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission to recoup certain costs associated with damage to its facilities caused by others which should not be borne by it’s customers.
Four proposals were delayed for consideration.
A request to issue $94 million in public facility bonds for the fiscal 2026 and 2027 budgets will be held until at least one budget work session on the capital improvements budget was held.
Three other proposals were put on hold until the next meetings by the various agencies: allowing operators to hold more than one beer, wine and liquor restaurant license in certain circumstances; Colvin’s proposal to mandate prompt repayment by the state of any motor fuel taxes paid by school bus drivers operating a school bus for the board of education; and a plan to reduce the term of service for a member of the Library Board of Trustees from five years to three years.
A proposal by a citizen requesting legislation amending the residency requirements for living in the home from 40 years to 20 years to be eligible to receive the senior property tax credit was withdrawn as authority to enact the changes already exists.
The proposals will be discussed during a joint meeting between the commissioners and St. Mary’s state delegation on Oct. 1. All of the proposals would need approval by the General Assembly to go into effect.
Local News
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