Regular Monthly Meeting , 2008

Members Present:

Lina Vlavianos, Chair 
Sally Hornor, Vice Chair 
Charlotte Lubbert
Jeff Schomig
Bob Whitcomb
Veronica Jagoe for AACo.Councilman Benoit (Ex officio)
Sam Shropshire, City Council (Ex officio)                                                                              

Guests and Staff:

Jennifer Carrier, Severn River Association
Del. Don Dwyer, Maryland State Delegate
Albert Johnston, Greater Severna Park Council
Tom Redmond, PROPO & Pasadena Business Association
Brenda Reiber, AACo. County Executive’s Office
Brenda Weeks, AACo. DPW/WESR

Absent:

Dave Hanson
Joe Rubino 
Michael Shultz
Debra Smith
Virginia P. Clagett, MD House Delegates (Ex officio)
Scott Hymes, MD DNR (Ex officio)         

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Vlavianos called the regular monthly meeting of the Severn River Commission (SRC) to order at 4:08 p.m. in the Severn Room, 2664 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD.  A quorum was declared present at 5:30 p.m. 

Guest speakers Mr. Tom Redmond, the Pasadena Business Association, and Delegate Don Dwyer, Maryland General Assembly, were introduced to SRC members, guests and staff. Both Mr. Redmond and Del. Dwyer represented the newly formed group PROPO. Mr. Redmond explained that PROPO was formed to address zoning issues and enforcement and property rights. He stressed that the group is not anti-environmental.

Del. Dwyer pointed out he was elected to protect the state and federal constitutions, not the environment. He feels there is a need to have reasonable enforcement so the issues that are affecting the watershed can be addressed. A problem arises when enforcement, whether right or wrong, is applied in an arbitrary manner - laws are a fixed standard. PROPO is growing because people are glad to have a collective voice to air concerns. Since he was elected, Del. Dwyer feels he has a responsibility to his constituents. Most situations do not involve people who have knowingly and willing violated the law. Most people are not aware they need special permits to carry out certain activities on their property in the Critical Area. He feels the biggest issues are a result of the Critical Area Legislation. Del. Dwyer stated we can not allow zoning regulations and enforcement to strip away property rights. He noted we have to pass laws that are enforceable that the public is going to be willing to live under to be able to clean up the Bay. Everyone agreed that education/public awareness is the key. 

Vlavianos noted that Del. Dwyer presented a very interesting explanation of what PROPO is hoping to accomplish - to find a common ground that the public would be willing to accept in laws dealing with environmental issues. She stated the members need to discuss this issue to determine what action SRC wants to take. Vlavianos thanked both Mr. Redmond and Del. Dwyer and expressed the desire to continue to keep open dialogue with the group.  She pointed out SRC strives to correct problems in general even though the Commission’s charge is the Severn River Watershed.

MINUTES

The Minutes for the September 4, 2008, regular monthly SRC meeting was presented for approval. No corrections/changes were made.

MOTION:  A MOTION, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 4, 2008, REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SEVERN RIVER COMMISSION, WAS MADE BY HORNOR AND SECONDED BY SCHOMIG.  THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN

ANNOUNCEMENTS / CORRESPONDENCE

1. Shultz, Rubino and Hymes were unable to attend this meeting.  Hanson, Smith and Clagett were absent.
2. The November 6 SRC meeting will be an Annapolis Focus meeting.  Annapolis government representatives will update SRC on issues of importance to the City.  Members agreed Mayor Moyer should be invited.
3. Representing SRC, Vlaviano has been invited to attend and speak at the Holladay Park Coastal Zone Outfall event to be held on October 22, 2008.  Arlington Echo is organizing this event.  The Chair will email details to members.
4. Shropshire announced he has just accepted a position as executive director of the Scenic Rivers Land Trust.
5. On behalf of SRC, a letter was sent to John Griffin, DNR, urging Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bay 2010 Trust Fund money be directed toward restoration projects in the Severn River Watershed.

OLD BUSINESS

Special Committees Reports

Critical Area Legislation (CA)

Schomig noted a special citizens group is meeting tonight to discuss CA legislation.  Hornor explained the group evolved with the riverkeepers—environmental interests coming together (West Riverkeeper and South River Federation).   The discussion will focus on the County CA legislation that was pulled and is now being revised.   In response to a question, Brenda Reiber stated the County administration will come back with a compromise on the legislation and is interested in input from citizens’ groups.

Education/Communication

No one was present to report.

Jabez Branch

Environmental Overlay Zone :  Vlavianos reported that all analysis, study, and preparation of the overlay zone have been completed.  She reviewed the breakdown of the 186 parcels that exist in Jabez 1 and 4 watersheds with 200-ft. and 300-ft. buffer impacts.  SRC is pushing the 300-ft. buffer.  A meeting has been scheduled with Councilman Jamie Benoit to provide him with all materials to put legislation in place and to determine the strategy of how to move forward.  A meeting will also be scheduled with AACo. Office of Planning & Zoning.  This legislation will protect the breeding areas of the Jabez, Left and Right Fork, the area just south of Route 32.  SRC members agreed this is a very reasonable piece of proposed legislation. 

Naval Academy Dairy Farm

Vlavianos attended the September 17 meeting of the Dairy Farm Advisory Committee.  SRC’s statement read by Lubbert at the July meeting on the necessity of improving water quality at Towsers Branch was not included in the minutes.  A correction will be made to the September Advisory Committee minutes.

Vlavianos reported they had a very good meeting.  She noted the consultant is now focusing on and refining possible land uses.  Two scenarios were presented with general agreement on most suggestions.  The “music pavilion” was the most contentious.  At the next meeting on October 15, 2008, a more refined list of possibilities will be presented.  The public is invited.

Hornor reported the Special Advisory Committee (SAC) has been reviewing goals, plans and policies provided by the County. The SAC has divided into four sub-committees (balance growth and sustainability, quality public services, community preservation and enhancement, and environmental stewardship). Hornor is on the environmental stewardship sub-committee. She feels that County staff is ignoring problems created over the past 20 years resulting from residential growth and viewing growth as good. 

Each sub-committee is to provide recommendations to the entire committee to consider and vote on at the end of October.  Three public comments’ meetings on the proposed GDP will be held in December. After the public’s input, County staff will write a final plan. The final plan in bill form will be presented to the Planning Advisory Board for their recommendations. The plan will then go to County Council where it will be finalized. 

On August 25-26, Whitcomb attended the Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professional Association’s 2008 Annual conference regarding on-site processing and techniques and programs developed by different jurisdictions tapping in on Trust Fund money.  He noted many of the presentations were excellent.  Whitcomb has applied for an upgrade to his septic system.  He will evaluate the process and will keep SRC informed.  Following a lengthy discussion, the Commission agreed that education of the public is the key.

The November SRC meeting will focus on the City’s environmental elements.  Mike Mallinoff, Director of the Annapolis Department of Neighborhood &

Environmental Programs; Steve Carr, Special Assistant for Environmental Concerns; and Julie Stankivic, Alderman Ward 6, will be present.

Lubbert reported 4,414 hits on the SRC website during August. Minutes, pollution, index, estuaries and Jabez were the most popular topics.  She will follow up on links to the SRC website for Pierre Henkart and John Page Williams’ presentations. The typos in the Jabez Branch information were corrected.

Lubbert attended MDE’s 17^th Annual Groundwater Symposium on September 25 in Baltimore. 

NEW BUSINESS

Following a discussion in response to Mr. Tom Redmond and Del. Don Dwyer speaking about citizen anger with county government’s inconsistent enforcement and infringement on property rights, SRC is willing to stay engaged in discussion if requested.  SRC is not willing to become engaged in the topic of property rights.  Schomig will write a thank you note to Mr. Redmond and Del. Dwyer.

PUBLIC INPUT

There was no public input.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.  The next monthly SRC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 6, 2008, 4:00 p.m., in the Severn Room (4th floor), 2664 Riva Road.