Talbot County, Maryland

04/25/2025

Category: County Council

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Employees of For All Seasons receives proclamation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April 2025.

The Talbot County Council held their regular meeting on April 22 at 5 p.m.; Council Member Dave Stepp was absent but did provide absentee ballots.

Proclamation: Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Staff from For All Seasons joined Council in recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The proclamation brings attention to the widespread issue of sexual abuse, assault and harassment which affects individuals of every background and strives to empower communities to take action across the country.

For All Seasons is the only designated Rape Crisis Center on the Mid-Shore; which continues to experience a dramatic growth in need by the community, with sexual assault services increasing by 50% in the last year alone.

For All Seasons 2025 theme is “Sip Safe”, calling attention to the alarming reality of alcohol and drug assisted sexual assault and urges Midshore residents to stay informed, vigilant, and equipped to safeguard themselves and their communities.

Katie Theeke, M.Ed., Vice President of Marketing and Communications at For All Seasons and Myisha Johnson, Victim Advocate, invited the public to participate in a Community Art Project in support of survivors of sexual assault.  The event is being held on Wednesday, April 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at The Ivy Café on Dover Street in Easton. .For more information on For All Seasons and their 24-hour crisis hotline call 410-820-5600 or 410-829-6143 (Spanish).

Presentation of Opioid Restitution Fund

The Talbot Local Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council (LDACC), represented by Sheriff Joe Gamble, Chairman, and Ann Simpers, LCPC, Behavioral Health Coordinator, Wellness Recovery, Mid Shore Behavioral Health, and Co-Chair of LDAAC, requested approval of LDAAC’s recommendation to award 2025 micro-grants to several organizations. Funding for the micro-grants comes from  the Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF).

The Opioid Restitution Fund receives its revenue through distribution of funding from the National Opioid Settlement Fund -  settlements with pharmaceutical companies and distributors held accountable for their role in fueling the opioid crisis and the State of Maryland through target abatement grants.  Talbot County decided to leverage these funds to invest in community-based solutions, focusing on prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives to address the ongoing impact of the epidemic.

The initiative provides non-profit organizations with active 501(c)3 status the opportunity to apply for one-time funding allocations ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 to support programs and services addressing the opioid crisis in Talbot County. Grant funds must be used by June 30, 2026.

Grant requests totaled $96,800 from various local organizations that have been working to address the opioid epidemic by providing education, crisis response support, safe stations, intervention support, overdose prevention, and more.

“The unique thing about these micro-grants is that a lot of these organizations don’t have the capability to apply for larger grants that come from the State,” said Sheriff Gamble. “These are some great programs that are filling the gaps that are necessary things, that they have already been doing on a shoestring budget. This [money] will go a long way to help support them.”

Council unanimously approved the award of microgrants as presented. Additionally, funding received through the ORF will help support ongoing drug awareness and treatment programming at the Talbot County Department of Corrections.

Other Business

• Council introduced and unanimously approved an administrative resolution to authorize the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds in the amount not to exceed $26,900,000 for the purpose of financing the renovation and expansion of the Chapel District Elementary School located in Cordova, Maryland.
• Res. No. 377 proposes to reclassify and remap property located at 3965 Ocean Gateway, Trappe, MD from “unprogrammed” to “S-1” immediate priority status. As was discussed in the April 8th Council meeting, the Public Works Advisory Board (PWAB) and Planning Commission (PC) reviewed the resolution and recommended approval. The PWAB voted 4-0-1 to approve the motion with a WHEREAS clause that acknowledges that the property was previously connected due to a mistaken assumption that the property was already mapped “S-1”. The PC was unanimously in favor, regardless of amendment. In this meeting, Council introduced and subsequently approved an amendment that included the requested language from the PWAB. The Council approved Resolution 377, as amended, by a vote of 3-2, with Lesher and Mielke dissenting.
• Bill No. 1584 proposes amending the zoning designation for property located on Tax Map 32, Parcel 36, consisting of approximately 3.737 acres, owned by Shannahan Holdings and a portion of Tax Map 32, Parcel 91, approximately 4.66 acres, owned by Destination Lodging, LLC, from Town Residential (TR) to General Commercial (GC). The PC reviewed the request and recommended approval of the request, citing that the designated zoning was likely a mapping error. Council unanimously approved Bill No. 1584 after approving the Findings of Fact as presented.
• The County Manager presented several board nominations for the Council’s consideration:
  • Board of Appeals - Council unanimously approved the appointment of Meredith Watters as an alternate member.
  • Commission on Aging - Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Ellen Taggert, Amy Kelly, Megan Pinder and Lee Newcomb.
  • Short Term Rental Review Board – Council approved the reappointment of Keith Watts by a vote of 3-0-1 with Mielke abstaining.
• The Department of Planning and Zoning requested permission to participate in the FY2025 Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) program with a matching fund amount of $990,586.51 in Agricultural Transfer tax funds for the purpose of securing easements. Planning and Zoning would like to pursue multiple easements in the FY25 year while matching funding is available in the State’s budget. Council unanimously approved the request. Planning Officer Brennan Tarleton noted that each year, the County sees 50+ applicants for the MALPF program and highlighted the importance of securing easements while State matching funds are available.
• The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) requested authorization to transfer Talbot County’s annual housing bond allocation in the amount of  $1,748,747 to DHCD for funding distribution. Council unanimously approved this request. Planning Officer, Brennan Tarleton, noted that in the past several years, the County has had DHCD manage the County’s portion of the funds since there has not been an individual in the Housing Coordinator position to manage the program. Tarleton commented that Council could consider managing the program in-house next year since the Planning and Zoning Department has hired a Housing Coordinator.
• The Roads Department requested to utilize the FY25 Capital Outlay Funding for the following equipment: Trailer Jet (Pipe Jetter) in the amount of $86,873, Right Hand Shouldering Machine (Road Widener) in the amount of $72,000, and Weiler Track Paver in the amount of $257,377. The Council unanimously approved the requests.
• After connecting the Martingham Community to the Region II – St. Michaels Wastewater System, the existing Martingham Wastewater Treatment Plant was decommissioned. In its final step to wind down the operation, the Department of Public Works requested approval to award a bid for sludge removal in the Martingham Wastewater Lagoon to Good Life, a local contractor, in the amount of $70,500. Council unanimously approved the request. Once the sludge has been removed, the County will work with the Martingham Utilities Cooperative to terminate the County’s easement on the property and allow the Martingham Community to use the property as they see fit.
• The Department of Public Works continues to move forward on the EMS North Station construction project. County Engineer Ray Clarke requested permission to enter into an agreement with Maryland Transit Authority for a no-cost railway easement for the entrance into the future home of the station. The Department also requested approval for Change Order No. 2 to Bid No. 24-14 in the amount of $253,800, for a revised contract amount of $1,951,688, to account for the change in design to cross the railway. Council unanimously approved these requests. 
• The Department of Public Works requested Council approval to establish a loan program to assist residents desiring to connect to the County’s sewer system as outlined in Resolution No. 235; the financial assistance would not  exceed $12,000 for a five-year period at an annual interest rate of 1%, payable monthly. If the property is sold, the balance of any loan would be paid at settlement.  Ray Clarke, County Engineer, noted that approximately $360,000 would be needed.  Council unanimously approved the loan program as proposed.

FY26 Budget Process

Public hearings on the proposed FY26 Budget will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room and at 7:00 p.m. in the Easton High School Cafeteria located at 723 Mecklenburg Avenue, Easton.

The public is encouraged to follow the budget process and engage as necessary. FY26 Budget information, including any relevant documents, meeting links, dates, etc. can be found at https://engage.talbotcountymd.gov/fy2026budget.

Next Meeting

The Council’s next regular legislative meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 6 beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room located in the South Wing, Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street, Easton.  The meeting is open to the public.

county council council highlights meeting highlights