Regular Monthly Meeting September 10, 2009

Members Present:

Lina Vlavianos, Chair
Sally Hornor, Vice Chair
Dan Haas
Charlotte Lubbert
Kurt Riegel
Jeff Schomig (via conference call)
Bob Whitcomb
Scott Hymes, MD DNR (Ex officio)
Veronica Jagoe for AACo.Councilman Benoit (Ex officio)

Guests and Staff:

Al Johnston, Greater Severna Park Council
Brenda Reiber, County Executive’s Office
Brenda Weeks, AACo. DPW/WERS

Members Absent:

Joe Rubino
Debra Smith
Virginia P. Clagett, MD House Delegates (Ex officio)
Sam Shropshire, City Council (Ex officio)

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Vlavianos called the regular monthly meeting of the Severn River Commission (SRC) to order at 4:04 p.m. in the Severn Room, 2664 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD. A quorum was declared present. 

MINUTES

The Minutes for the August 6, 2009, regular monthly SRC meeting was presented for approval. The following correction was made:  Under Oyster Restoration Activities in the Severn River on page five, at the end of the first sentence, these words were added to read “. . . -1,100 cages were requested for the Severn River.”

MOTION:  A MOTION, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE AUGUST 6, 2009, REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SEVERN RIVER COMMISSION

AS CORRECTED ABOVE, WAS MADE BY WHITCOMB AND SECONDED BY LUBBERT.  THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND THE MINUTES WERE ADOPTED.

1. The Chair was notified that Shropshire and Clagett would not be present. Rubino and Smith were absent. Schomig participated via conference call.
2. At the October meeting the County Office of Law representative will discuss the State Scenic Rivers Act and how the State law applies to the Scenic Severn River.
3. At the November meeting Margaret McHale, Chair of the State Critical Area Commission, will address Critical Area regulations.
4. Vlavianos will write the County Executive regarding Rubino’s and her SRC term expirations on January 31, 2010.
5. An SRC letter dated August 12, 2009 was sent to the County Executive regarding the County’s practice of permitting large-scale plan removal along the tidal shoreline.
6. SRC received an invitation from Baldwin Homes for Thursday, September 17 to attend the opening of their Eco-Model at the Preserve at Severn Run. 

OLD BUSINESS

Scenic Severn River

Schomig reported he received a confirmation from the Office of Law saying someone will attend the October SRC meeting to discuss the State Scenic Rivers Act and how the State law applies to the Severn River. Schomig emailed a list of questions to the County Law Office for the October meeting.

Critical Area Legislation (CA)

Schomig noted that no response has been received from the County Executive’s office regarding SRC’ letter of August 13, 2009, regarding the clearing of vegetation and trees on Saltworks Creek. He did receive a call from a County office asking him to clarify the address of the property in question. A meeting was scheduled by the County but SRC was not requested to attend. The results of the meeting are not known. SRC is interested in the County’s vegetation clearing policy rather than specific issues; however, Saltworks Creek is a good example. SRC is awaiting a response from the County Executive. SRC members thanked Schomig for a very well-written letter. He will prepare a list of questions for Margaret McHale for the November meeting.

Articles 16/17 Revisions

Riegel reported he has attended two monthly meetings with the County where presentations were made by the County and has received draft wording on these two revised documents. Work groups’ comments are now being accepted.  Riegel said the documents are long and complex and he is still formulating his thoughts and recommendations. The County will review all comments before releasing their final draft of proposed wording. The documents will be available for public comment after that. The task is to bring the County’s regulations into conformity with the State model code and perhaps go beyond it.  Riegel will continue to keep the Commission informed.

Annapolis

Haas reported the Annapolis Environmental Commission’s meeting is tonight and he would have a report for the October meeting. The Environmental Commission did not meet in September. He did mention the City’s tree give-away project and developing a plan this coming year for long-range planning. At the Chair’s request, he will remind Steve Carr about his reappointment to SRC.

General Development Plan (GDP)

Amendments to the proposed GDP bill will be introduced by County Council members at the September 21 Council meeting.  Lots of public testimony is anticipated. Representing SRC, Hornor will attend and if necessary, speak to the amendments at the October 5 meeting. 

Jabez Environmental Overlay Zone

Vlavianos reported that SRC’s proposed language for the Jabez Overlay Zone is still in the Office of Planning & Zoning and has not yet been sent to the Office of Law to be reviewed for legislative language. She will keep Commission members apprised of its progress.

Septics

Whitcomb pointed out the State is overwhelmed with requests for septic upgrades utilizing the Bay Restoration Funds. Funding has been reduced and new restrictions have been put into place.  The only upgrades that are available are for failing systems within the Critical Area. RetroFAST has been decertified as one of the acceptable upgrade methods.  Whitcomb is following the issues closely and will keep SRC updated.

Lubbert reported the SRC website had 1,156 hits in August. 

Oyster Restoration Activities in the Severn River

Whitcomb stated this project is in full gear with the Severn River being the most active with volunteers throughout. Approximately 20% of DNR’s spats cages are delivered to the Severn.  Next year each river will have spats spread in its own river. Collecting cages and spreading spats is anticipated to be a huge project.  Whitcomb hopes to see measurable changes in the water quality in the next 3-5 years. 

Hymes congratulated Whitcomb and Lubbert for all the hard work they have contributed to this project.

NEW BUSINESS

Hymes announced he has tree coupons for the Marylanders Plant Trees Program and encouraged SRC members to help distribute them to their community groups.

PUBLIC INPUT

Mr. Al Johnston stressed that everyone needs to understand how important the General Development Plan is and the need to support it.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 5:36 p.m.  The next SRC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2009, 4:00 p.m., in the Severn Room (4^th Floor), 2664 Riva Road.