Members Present: Lina Vlavianos, Chair
Sally Hornor, Vice Chair
Dave Hanson
Charlotte Lubbert
Joe Rubino
Jeff Schomig
Michael Shultz Guests and Staff: Albert Johnston, Greater Severna Park Council
Brenda Reiber, AACo. County Executive’s Office
Brenda Weeks, AACo. DPW/WES Absent: Scott Hymes
Debra Smith
Virginia P. Clagett, MD House Delegates (Ex officio)
Jamie Benoit, County Council (Ex officio)
Sam Shropshire, City Council (Ex officio) CALL TO ORDER Chair Vlavianos called the regular monthly meeting of the Severn River Commission to order at 4:03 p.m. in the Severn Room, 2664 Riva Road. A quorum was present. Smith notified Hanson she would not be at the meeting. MINUTES The minutes for the February 7, 2008, regular monthly SRC meeting was presented for approval. MOTION: A MOTION, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE FEBRUARY 7, 2008, RGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SEVERN RIVER COMMISSION AS WRITTEN, WAS MADE BY HORNOR AND SECONDED BY LUBBERT. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND THE MINUTES WERE ADOPTED AS WRITTEN. ANNOUNCEMENTS / CORRESPONDENCE - Since Hymes was recently employed by Maryland DNR, he may not be able to continue serving as a voting SRC member. Vlavianos is waiting for a written decision from the State Ethics Commission regarding a possible conflict of interest. If a replacement for Hymes is necessary, Vlavianos requested recommendations and resumes be forwarded to her.
- Vlavianos reported the County Executive’s office sent letters to MDE and DNR, per SRC’s Resolution, inviting each to appoint ex officio members to serve on the Commission. Due to resource limitations, MDE declined but did assign a primary contact person to the Commission.
- Mr. Ron Bowen, Director of Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, has been invited to the April 3 SRC meeting to address the County-wide Septic System Strategy Plan.
- Lubbert has scheduled a tour of the Cox Creek Treatment Plant on Friday, April 25, 2008. Please contact Lubbert if you are interested.
- SRC members have been invited to attend the March 20, 2008, Lower Western Shore Tributary Team meeting. Vlavianos will email additional information to members.
- Resolution No. 13-08 establishing an Impact Fee Advisory Committee to study Dr. James Nicholas’2007-2008 Impact Fee Report was briefly discussed. The Impact Fee Panel will meet on March 10, 2008.
- Congratulations were extended to the County Executive’s Community Connections Day on February 9, 2008, at Waugh Chapel. The general public showed great interest. A second Community Connections Day is scheduled for March 8, 2008, at the Anne Arundel Community College.
- Schomig sent an email to County Council members regarding Impact Fees based on SRC members’ discussion at their February 7, 2008, meeting.
OLD BUSINESS Election of Vice Chair The Chair noted that each March the SRC membership elects a Vice Chair. Following a brief discussion, Hornor was re-elected as SRC Vice Chair. MOTION: A MOTION, TO RE-ELECT SALLY HORNOR AS SRC VICE CHAIR, WAS MADE BY SCHOMIG AND SECONDED BY HANSON. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE. Hanson will check with SRC ex officio member Alderman Shropshire to see why he is not attending Commission meetings.
Special Committees Reports Critical Area Legislation (CA) Schomig reported he spoke with the County’s Office of Law and was told the State Critical Area Commission is asking the County to address two changes to the application of its Critical Area (CA) law: (1) septics in Resource Conservation Area (RCA) and (2) County designated remapping “errors”. The County is waiting on the General Assembly action on CA before finalizing the redraft. Schomig will continue to follow up with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation regarding the proposed changes to the State Critical Area legislation. Education/Communication Hanson reported the Maryland Maritime Heritage Festival would be held again this year in Annapolis on May 2, 3, and 4. Hanson, Smith and Lubbert will help man a booth again this year. Members discussed numerous ideas for SRC participation to make the display more visible. Schomig will explore ideas with the Severn River Rod & Keg Club and keep the members informed. Hanson will check on the status of the City of Annapolis’ 6-year Critical Area update. He noted he had contact with DPW regarding Cowhide Branch. Jabez Branch Environmental Overlay Zone: There was nothing new to report. Naval Academy Dairy Farm: Vlavianos reported she was contacted by Sandy Poland of Recreation and Parks to serve on the Dairy Farm Advisory Committee. Shultz will serve as an alternate. Meetings will be held once a month. Selection of the Advisory Committee members will be announced soon. KCC Properties: Vlavianos noted clarification is needed from Planning & Zoning about the specific issue which deals with KCC and the general issue regarding utilization of the watershed management tool (WMT) in the review process. In a recent conversation with Ginger Ellis, DPW Watershed & Ecosystem Services, Vlavianos expressed her concerns. Ms. Ellis plans to meet with Larry Tom, AACo. Planning & Zoning, to clarify both issues. No action will be necessary on the February 7, 2008, SRC motion (Vlavianos will request a meeting with P&Z and WES regarding utilization of the WMT in the review process) unless SRC is dissatisfied with the results of the meeting between WES and P&Z. General Development Plan (GDP) Hornor was appointed to serve on the GDP Special Advisory Committee. She reported new information has been posted on the GDP website. She expressed concern that more sensitive areas should be preserved as well as agricultural land. Schomig read the following into the record from the University of Virginia Environmental Law: Our programs tend to conflate environmental and agricultural concerns. In practice, farmers’ interests are far more politically powerful in the state and the rights of wildlife-enforced land which results in sequence of land preservation of focus on compensation for farmers who relinquish their development rights. Ecological arguments are often used to justify practices that in fact, are simply methods of subsidizing existing farmers or landowners. Conservation easements preserve whatever land happens to be available rather than ecologically important land. The bulk of land that’s characterized as undeveloped is also often used by humans for specific purposes and involves human activities that affect the condition of the land. Moreover, the detrimental environmental impact of preserving land for uses such as agricultural enterprises or golf courses can be every bit as great or even greater than the impact of development. Website Lubbert reported the SRC website had 2,455 hits during February. Pollution, history, and sandbars/beaches were the most popular topics. Members suggested updating the site and adding some new information. Lubbert will handle the update. Stormwater Utility Fund There was nothing new to report. The issue seems to be on hold. Impact Fees Schomig reported he is not sure why he was not given the opportunity by the County Council Chair to testify on behalf of SRC at the Impact Fee hearing. A misunderstanding of what SRC is, by new aides, may have led to the lack of recognition. SRC will wait to see what happens when wishing to testify next time. Since Schomig did not get to testify, he sent an email to County Council members expressing SRC’s views on Bill 6-08 and impact fees discussed at their February 7 meeting. NEW BUSINESS Schomig reported results of the Pickerel “tournament”. No fish were caught in Weems Creek; one was caught in College Creek; and numerous fish were caught further up the Severn River. A 26-inch fish was landed in the Severn. Yellow Perch were numerous in the Upper Severn River. Schomig observed the bottom was covered with clam shells in the Ben Oaks/Indian Landing area. Vlavianos is waiting for a response from the DNR Fisheries about an update on their fish survey on the Severn River. They last reported to SRC in 2004. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation wants to come to an SRC meeting to report on oyster reefs (possibly the May meeting). Schomig will schedule. PUBLIC INPUT There was no public input. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:47 p.m. The next monthly SRC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2008, 4:00 p.m., in the Severn Room (4th floor), 2664 Riva Road. | 
