SEVERN RIVER COMMISSION
Regular Monthly Meeting Minutes
August 4, 2011 – 4:00 P.M.
Severn Room, 2664 Riva Road, 4th Floor
Attendance
Record
Members Present: Lina Vlavianos, Chair 7/8
Sally Hornor, Vice Chair 7/8
Kurt Riegel 7/8
Mike Robinson 6/6
Jeff Schomig 7/8
Bob Whitcomb 7/8
Veronica Jagoe for Councilman Benoit (Ex officio) 4/8 Scott Hymes, MD DNR (Ex officio) 3/8
Guests and Staff: Pamela Edwards, Acting Director, Design Boards, DLLR
Howard Harclerode II, P.E., MD State Prof.Engineers Board
David Mauriello, Magothy River Association
John Mettee III, Prof. L.S., MD State Surveyors Board
Marina Hardy, AA County Executive’s Office
Brenda Weeks, AACo. DPW/Wers Members Absent: Joel Dunn 3/8 Joe Rubino 5/8
Fred Paone, City Council (Ex officio) 0/8 CALL TO ORDER Chair Vlavianos called the regular monthly meeting of the Severn River Commission (SRC) to order at 4:02 p.m. in the Severn Room, 2664 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD. A quorum was present. The guest speakers were welcomed and introduced. GUEST SPEAKERS Mr. Howard “Skip” Harclerode, Chairman, MD Board of Professional Engineers; Mr. John Mettee, Chairman, MD Board of Professional Land Surveyors; and Ms. Pam Edwards, Acting Director, MD Dept.of Labor, Licensing and Regulations were present to explain their position on why land surveyors and landscape architects should be allowed, as are professional engineers, to certify sediment and erosion control plans in the Severn River watershed. SRC requested before further action, more information be provided: (1) specifics of training, and (2) the source of the introduced code change request in the past General Assembly session. PUBLIC INPUT / AGENDA ITEMS – There was no public input MINUTES The Minutes for the July 7, 2011, regular monthly SRC meeting were presented for approval. The minutes were approved as written. MOTION: A MOTION, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE JULY 7, 2011, REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SRC AS WRITTEN, WAS MADE
BY RIEGEL AND SECONDED BY HORNOR. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED. ANNOUNCEMENTS / CORRESPONDENCE (1) Rubino was not present because of another commitment. Dunn was absent. (2) The City of Annapolis is working on a replacement to fill the City’s vacancy on SRC. (3) State Highway Administration‘s (SHA) Ms. Sonal Sanghavi, Director of Environmental Design, will attend SRC’s September meeting to address questions about SHA’s excess property on the Jabez as well as runoff problems. (4) Vlavianos sent an e-mail to Ms. Sanghavi reiterating the need to establish a permanent conservation easement on SHA’s excess property in the Jabez watershed. (5) On behalf of the Commission, a letter dated July 27, 2011, was sent to Ms. Beverly Swaim-Staley, Secretary of Transportation, suggesting establishment of a permanent conservation easement on SHA’s Jabez excess property. Based on a minimal amount of information, SRC was trying to determine what role County Recreation & Parks (R&P) is playing in the development of a sports complex on SHA’s property. Hardy said it was her understanding that R&P might enter into an agreement to use the completed ball fields part of the time for county activities. Vlavianos asked Jagoe if she knew anything about the sports complex. She responded she had not had an update on this for sometime. OLD BUSINESS Priest Point Whitcomb reported the owner of the property came to terms on an agreement with the Severn River Association (SRA) to set aside 15 acres out of 17 acres for conservation easements. The Scenic Rivers Land Trust will hopefully execute the agreement with forceful language but there seems to be some delays. One home is allowed on the property and impervious surfaces are not to exceed what is there now. Septics Whitcomb reported $1,900,000 is available to Anne Arundel County for failing septic systems. This is enough money to upgrade 130-140 systems. First priority is to upgrade failing systems in the Critical Area (CA); second, failing systems outside the CA and last, non-failing systems in CA. Maryland Department of the Environment establishes the criteria and priorities. Whitcomb noted there is a real learning opportunity on August 16, 2011--a symposium on septic systems and future growth in Maryland sponsored by the Maryland Farm Bureau at Chesapeake College. Slag
On behalf of SRC, Hornor drafted a letter to the County Executive addressing the Commission’s concerns about slag. Following some discussion and after minor editing, the letter will be sent under Vlavianos’ signature. Oyster Restoration Activities Whitcomb noted he is busy recruiting volunteers for the next season of oyster activities. Hornor announced on August 27 divers from the Magothy River Association and the U.S. Naval Academy will measure planted oysters in sanctuaries for growth, survival and water quality. Annapolis – There was nothing new to discuss.
Critical Area Schomig drafted a letter to Mr. Robert Hubbard, Director of AACo. Inspections & Permits, as a follow up to the meeting with SRC. Two examples of questionable permitted clearing in the Critical Area (CA) will be provided. Previous correspondence on the subject with the previous administration will be attached. Riegel suggested SRC may be ready to make policy recommendations on CA and more specifically on buffer clearing to appropriate parties. Schomig will coordinate a policy
proposal that no buffer clearing be permitted unless there is a need to protect life and property. Further discussion will follow at the September commission meeting.
Schomig reported there is a serious flooding issue affecting the watershed in the Ben Oaks community in the Upper Severn. He will get in touch with the Ben Oaks people to see if they have contacted the County and/or if the County has responded. Comprehensive Rezoning Some SRC members expressed the sentiment that the current comprehensive rezoning process flaunted federal water quality mandates, ignored the General Development Plan (GDP) and Small Area Plans (SAP) recommendations and in general was not transparent with last minute rezoning applications. This will be summarized by Schomig in a draft letter for discussion in September. He will also prepare a statement to speak in front of the County Council expressing the sentiments of the SRC. MOTION: A MOTION, THAT SCHOMIG WILL DRAFT A LETTER FOR DISCUSSION AT THE SRC SEPTEMBER MEETING REGARDING SRC’S CONCERNS ABOVE ABOUT THE CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE REZONING PROCESS, WAS MADE BY RIEGEL AND SECONDED BY HORNOR. THE MOTION CARRIED BY 5-1 VOTE WITH WHITCOMB OBJECTING. Website Editorial changes to the SRC website are being addressed by Robinson. NEW BUSINESS – There was no new business. PUBLIC INPUT/NEW ITEMS – There was no public input. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. The next SRC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 8, 2011, at 4:00 p.m. in the Severn Room (4th Floor), 2664 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD.
| 
