November 12, 2009, Chestertown, Maryland

KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND ITEMS OF INTEREST (From Kent County’s website)

Did you know? Kent County has a “Weed Control Committee” with an unlimited number of members for indefinite terms? According to Kent County’s website, current members are: Robert W. Clark, Jr., Davidson S. Coleman, Jr., Richard R. Cook, Floyd “Butch” Crew, Quenton Dublin, Ed Fry, John E. Hall, Herman E. Hill, Jr., George H. Kendall, Nancy Metcalf, George Parsons, Don Robbins, Howard Squires, Ernest Strong, William S. Sutton, Wickes Westcott and Commissioner Roy W. Crow.

For your information – Kent County has a Community Center Authority composed of the following members: Charles Hilton, Myra Butler, Leon Frison, Edward Athey, Dr. Barbara Wheeler, Judge John Nunn, Charles D. MacLeod (CHAIRMAN), Commissioner Roy Crow, Vita Pickrum, Jeffrey Goodman, Bryan Williams, Candy Edwards, Marianne Peltier-Allison.

KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND ITEMS OF INTEREST (From October 6, 2009 approved minutes of the Kent County Board of Commissioners)

**WASHINGTON COLLEGE - LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM KENT COUNTY
Correspondence dated September 21 was received from Joe Holt, Chief of Staff, regarding the US EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant Program. Mr. Holt reminded that Washington College is interested in acquiring the former Crop Production Services and Alger Oil properties adjacent to our Lelia Hynson Boating Park. In anticipation of such an acquisition, Earth Data, Inc. completed Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments. Based on the results of these studies, it appears that the sites have been negatively impacted by past use as fertilizer and agricultural chemical storage and distribution facility and as a fuel oil storage and distribution depot. The projected cost of clean up for the two parcels approaches $1.6 million. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Cleanup program has been identified as a potential source of $400,000 in grant aid to assist in the clean-up effort. Mr. Holt requested the Commissioners’ support of Washington College’s application in the form of a support letter and by having a county representative attend the public hearing for this project, which was scheduled for October 5 at 6:30 p.m. The County Administrator attended this hearing on behalf of the Commissioners. The Commissioners approved and signed a letter of support as requested.

**ADDRESSING MHIC LICENSING
MHIC Licensing- In follow up to recent discussions regarding the extent of Kent County’s obligation to enforce State Home Improvement Commission contractor licensing regulations, correspondence went forth to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Jordan, Chester River Marine Construction, from the majority of the Board providing final results of the Commissioners’ discussion on this topic. After reviewing this matter with numerous individuals who deal directly with the pertinent legal provisions and who administer the State Critical Area and Home Improvement laws, Kent County is strengthening its permit procedures to require marine contractors performing shore erosion control work, building piers, etc. (as well as all other contractors needing to have a MHIC license) to supply their MHIC license number on the application for a permit to perform work. Effective January, 2010, it will be mandated that the MHIC license number be supplied on the permit application. A January 2010 effective date was established to provide a brief grace period to allow contractors to complete the MHIC licensing requirements before the county begins to refuse to issue permits or to accept permit applications lacking the license numbers. Electronic correspondence was also forwarded to Steve Smitson, of the MHIC Commission, advising of the County’s position in this matter and appreciation was extended for his time and assistance in the matter.

**HOTEL RENTAL TAX
The Commissioners approved and Commissioner Crow signed an individual Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Betterton and the Town of Chestertown as it relates to the Hotel Rental Tax Rebate Program. The Towns of Betterton and Chestertown have reviewed the proposed Program, as presented by the Economic Development Director, and agree with the value of attracting potential film industry professionals into the Town. The Towns of Betterton and Chestertown have agreed to the following: 1) The County will initiate and operate the Kent County Hotel Rental Tax Rebate Program on behalf of the County and Town, and the final authority on decisions to rebate or not rebate a hotel rental tax shall lie with the Economic Development Office, 2) The County will rebate the full 5% hotel rental tax to all qualified applicants under the conditions and procedures of the Program, 3) The county will issue an invoice to the Town for any portion of the 5% hotel rental tax, which the Town may have collected, and which portion would normally be retained by the Town and not remitted to the county; 4) The town will pay the county invoice in a timely manner and 5) All other portions of the original Memorandum of Understanding, dated February 24, 2004, shall remain in effect.