Commissioners approve septic-tank grants

Address ethics issues first

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Atlantic Solutions will receive $155,705 to install 13 nitrogen-removing septic systems while Superior Tank will get $219,314 to install 19 tanks. All 32 systems will be inside the critical area.

Last November, the county was given $1,582,000 from the state Bay Restoration Fund to install nitrogen-removing septics in priority areas.

Three county employees were included on the list of 32 homeowners to receive the systems. Before voting on the contracts, Commissioner Linda Kelley (R) asked Watershed Planner Steve Kullen whether any of the three had either been involved in choosing the sites or held a supervisory position over Kullen, who oversaw the selection process.

"Absolutely in no way," Kullen answered.

The list was reviewed and approved by the Calvert County Ethics Commission, Administrator Terry Shannon said. In September, the ethics commission found Principal Planner David Brownlee had committed an ethics violation when he included his home, located in a non-priority area, on a similar list that he had helped construct.

The $11,719 average installation cost of each unit is down from $15,000 when the program first started, Kullen said.

In other business, the commissioners:

- Proclaimed the week of Oct. 27 to Nov. 2 Youth Appreciation Week.

- Proclaimed November as National Hospice Month.

- Recognized Dfc. Brianne Gray, who in September received the Deputy of the Year for Community Policing award from the Maryland Sheriff's Association for her community-oriented approach to policing the Twin Beaches. Gray is the first female officer in Calvert County to win the award, Sheriff Mike Evans said.

In addition to winning the award, Commissioner Susan Shaw was pleased to see Gray also got the highest score on a driving course test.

"Beat all the guys, right?" Shaw asked.

- Were given a presentation by Director of Planning and Zoning Greg Bowen on the status of the county's Green Team.

- Approved unanimously a list of requests that were later presented at a public meeting to the county delegation at the Calvert Pines Senior Center in Prince Frederick at 7 p.m.

- Approved unanimously a request from the Calvert County Animal Control Unit to decrease pet licensing fees for one week. County pet licenses currently cost $7 for spayed or neutered pets and $20 if they are not spayed or neutered. From Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, the fees will be reduced to $3 and $10, respectively. The reduced fees are part of animal control's effort to boost pet licenses. Only 1,400 animal licenses have been sold this year, compared to 3,200 last year, Animal Control Office II Craig Dicther said. More licenses could help animal control return stray animals to their owners and decrease the number sent to and euthanized at the Tri-County Animal Shelter in Hughesville, he added.

- Voted unanimously to approve amendments to the Ben Garner Active Adult Community covenants.

The covenants originally required that all community residents be aged 55 or older. The county Zoning Ordinance has since been amended to only require one resident to be aged 55 or older. The community's board of directors asked to amend the covenants to reflect the zoning ordinance. Under the amended covenants, the community still meets the requirements for a reduced excise tax for age-restricted dwellings.

- Unanimously approved development options for two Agricultural Preservation Districts in Sunderland owned by Thomas Axley, a court appointed trustee for the heirs of Caroline Claggett and the estate of Chris Constantine.

- Unanimously approved development option for an Agricultural Preservation District in Lusby owned by the estate of Morris Suit.

jnewman@somdnews.com