Talbot County, Maryland

08/29/2024

Category: County Council

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The County celebrated a first-time state championship for the Talbot Softball Junior League with Certificates of Recognition and Senate Citations.

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Senator Johnny Mautz joins Council at the dais to provide a few words.

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Council Member Dave Stepp hands out Certificate of Recognition to the girls softball team.

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Coaches provide details leading up to the historic victory.

The Talbot County Council held their regular meeting on August 27, 2024, at 5 p.m.; all Council members were present.

Work Session on Public Accommodations Tax

Prior to the regularly scheduled meeting, the County Council held a public work session to discuss a proposed increase in the Public Accommodations Tax (Accommodations Tax) rate in Talbot County.

Currently, the Accommodations Tax rate for Talbot County stands at 4%. When a guest stays in a Talbot County hotel, B&B, or short-term rental (STR), they pay a 6% State sales tax in addition to the 4% local Accommodations Tax. If the lodging is in, or within a one-mile radius of a municipality, the Accommodations Taxes collected by the County are returned to the municipality, less a 5% administrative fee. If the lodging is located outside the one-mile radius and is in Talbot County proper, the County retains the entire amount of Accommodations Taxes collected.

As outlined in the legislation, revenue generated from the Accommodations Tax must be used to promote and support economic development and tourism within the county. The portion of the Accommodation Tax that is distributed to the municipalities may be used to alleviate “any costs associated with tourism”, which may include sidewalk repair, improvement to downtown areas, etc.

Cassandra Vanhooser, Director of Economic Development and Tourism and Harold Klinger, member of the Talbot County Tourism Board, provided an overview of the current Accommodations Tax and provided examples of potential revenue to the County and towns if the tax rate were increased by 2%. The Tourism Board voted to support an increase of 2%, bringing the total accommodation tax to 6%.

Martha Sparks, Director of the Finance, provided a summary of how the Accommodations Tax is collected by the County. “The County is the collector, and the enforcement arm. It’s our responsibility to make sure businesses are reporting their guest stays and returning that tax to the County.” Businesses have 120 days to pay the tax, after which the County can impose a 10% penalty on the amount of unpaid tax.

Ms. Sparks proposed changes to the legislation to reflect that a penalty of 10% on the unpaid tax shall be imposed within 1 month after the payment is due.

“This will put Talbot County in alignment with the timing of other counties for the imposition of penalties for nonpayment,” said Sparks. “More importantly, it will improve the collection, reporting, compliance monitoring and distribution of the Accommodations Tax to the County and its municipalities.”

Both suggested changes will require a change in State law. If the Council chooses to support changes, a formal request will be made to the local delegation to introduce legislation in Annapolis.   The Council is scheduled to hold its annual meeting with the local delegation on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

The discussion will continue on the local level, engaging each affected municipality before a decision will be made on any legislative request.

Proclamation: Talbot Softball Junior League All-Star Team

The County celebrated a first-time state championship for the Talbot Softball Junior League with Certificates of Recognition and Senate Citations.

The team included youth athletes Josey Bissonette, Paige Bodle, McKenna Brach, Kayleigh Burkhardt, Leah Dadds, Madi Fisher, Katelyn Gay, Ryliegh Groce, Mercy Haddaway, Ella Kennedy, Lane Kennedy, Natalee Lyons, Evelyn Mautz, Leah Smith.  The team was coached by Greg Dadds, Danny Bissonette, John Brach, and Jed Gay.

Talbot Softball was formed in 2019 to create a county-wide softball league. Council Member Dave Stepp was an integral part of getting the program up and running, as both a parent and coach.

“We’ve come a long way in just a few years of this league being in existence,” said Council Member Dave Stepp. “Awesome job, congratulations, and can’t wait to see what the next season brings!”

For more information on the Talbot Softball League, visit www.talbotsoftball.org.

Other Business

• Council offered a warm welcome and congratulations to Kurt Fuchs, who was recently hired as the Manager of External Affairs at Easton Utilities. In the new role, he will be focused on evaluating public policy issues and regulatory shifts while cultivating external partnerships.
• Sheriff Joe Gamble provided an update on the use of targeted abatement opioid settlement grant funding in the County. As a result of national opioid settlements, Talbot County will receive direct funding from the Directing Administrator of the National Opioid Settlements and the State of Maryland’s Opioid Restitution Fund. The Local Drug and Alcohol Coordinating Committee (LDACC) was tasked with creating a plan for the best use of the funds. Sheriff Gamble laid out their recommendations which included continued funding for the Department of Corrections’ Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) program and establishing a micro-grant funding program for organizations to address the ongoing opioid crisis in our community. Council unanimously approved the recommendations.
• Clay Stamp, County Manager presented several board and committee nominations for the Council’s consideration:
  • Economic Development Commission – Council unanimously approved the appointment of John Horner of Easton Utilities.
  • Local Drug and Alcohol Coordinating Committee – Council unanimously approved the appointment of Kevin Hartmann.
  • Police Accountability – Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Chris Rice as the Town of Easton’s representative and Jo Anne Murray as the Sheriff Area 3 representative.
• Town of Trappe requested approval to submit a Community Parks and Playground grant to the state to develop a girls softball field, batting cage, and addition of ADA restrooms at the Home Run Baker Sports Complex. If approved, the Town and the County will enter into a joint use agreement.  The Council unanimously approved the request.
• Public Works requested Council approval for amendments for additional services and modifications to services for Bid No. 22-07, Engineering Services for the Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan update – 2022/2023 Report of the Review. Council Member Lynn Mielke requested additional information for the request and the vote was deferred to the following Council meeting.
• Public Works also requested approval to modify the County’s contract with Rauch, Inc. to complete engineering design services for the Ferry Point Marina Wastewater Treatment Plant under Bid No. 20-04 for a total contract cost of $206,274. Council unanimously approved this request.
• A public hearing and subsequent vote was held for Emergency Bill No. 1577, which proposes to facilitate the reconfiguration of MD Rt. 662 for the new hospital and regional medical center by Shore Health Systems. After moving the bill to 3rd reader and approving Amendment #1, the majority of Council voted in favor of the bill. Council Member Mielke stated that although she supports the hospital project, she questioned the emergency basis for the bill and voting on it at this meeting, citing that additional information relevant to the bill has yet to be acquired. She also expressed concerns about the impact of the road closure, particularly traffic safety issues.

The Council’s next legislative meeting will be held on September 10, 2024 beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room located in the South Wing, Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street, Easton.  The meeting open to the public.

council highlights meeting highlights accomodations tax sports hospital