[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6604105,"mediaKeyId","2994492-e459975dcb92f28234cfabc5a367eb08","parentId",2994492,"title","Board enacts two local bills on BZA term limits and wastewater facility zoning; action taken in legislative session","audioSeconds",498,"startMs",3096000,"endMs",3594000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2994492-e459975dcb92f28234cfabc5a367eb08&start=3096&end=3594","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2994492-e459975dcb92f28234cfabc5a367eb08/thumbnail_3096000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6604105/Caroline-County/Maryland/Board-enacts-two-local-bills-on-BZA-term-limits-and-wastewater-facility-zoning-action-taken-in-legislative-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604105-a06e9b2546c8561ff232bf5973f995e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448264&Signature=I7tbkLspGQ5OrQNOOc2YOYwvTdJOM7Cn93R2fZ8CtB193MVDI3m7dEGlub0Qb0UQ24hLem8RSVq4xhPuTWovFDj9M8RRsjZHuG2881xgtSGClKad4SwAt~GWruAchu2uYpOthNHe56aR7PDDWSaSDHrkp22ZzuW2t95v7qHNHKdq1c9MYswahMByYn9OgzJ35fyQNuJGue~wzfguo8j2~x7g3Zzg-RqKPL9tB27-NM5p6CJC5bifybhFmTONgr0mBeyvOrXcHV~tlTXeXHhEJBkFmn2h-3zqkaz-HVhOK~sEOtUX7f2v7jIMmCn6Us3nKdj9q8nn7pc62fMSfE99CQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Caroline","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Caroline County Board of Commissioners held a legislative session on April 15 and enacted two county bills after public notice and prior readings.

Legislative Bill 2025‑003: The bill revises chapter language governing the membership and removal provisions for the Board of Zoning Appeals and removes locally imposed term limits for BZA members while preserving reappointment by the commissioners. County legal staff said the change aligns the local ordinance with recent state statutory language regarding removal procedures. The commissioners enacted the bill by voice vote after a brief discussion; the bill was made an emergency act in the record.

Legislative Bill 2025‑004: This bill amends the county table of uses to change how wastewater treatment facilities are classified in certain zoning districts. It narrows the definition of facilities that qualify as wastewater treatment facilities and adjusts where accessory and non‑accessory facilities are permitted or subject to special use exception in R (rural), I‑2 (light industrial) and MH (mobile home) districts. The board held a public hearing previously; the third reading was enacted by voice vote and recorded as an emergency bill.

Both enactments were recorded without a roll‑call tally in the meeting transcript; in each case a motion and second were made and commissioners approved the measures by voice vote. County staff indicated no public opposition had been filed for the bills prior to third reading.

Text of both adopted bills will be available in the county legislative record and in the clerk’s office.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Caroline - Caroline County Commissioners Meeting - Apr 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During a brief legislative session April 15 the commissioners enacted two local bills: Legislative Bill 2025‑003 (BZA term‑limit and membership language changes) and Legislative Bill 2025‑004 (zoning classifications for wastewater treatment facilities). Both passed by voice vote and were adopted as emergency acts in the meeting record.","taxTitle","Caroline County, Maryland","taxId",61674,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604110,"Caroline commissioners back letter asking governor to veto state bill on large-scale solar",1545,2275000,3820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2994492-e459975dcb92f28234cfabc5a367eb08&start=2275&end=3820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2994492-e459975dcb92f28234cfabc5a367eb08/thumbnail_2275000.jpg","/articles/6604110/Caroline-County/Maryland/Caroline-commissioners-back-letter-asking-governor-to-veto-state-bill-on-large-scale-solar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604110-1867a1f28d7755280663df265ef58c20/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448264&Signature=IkUQSFKStjdUVHJO0iw9WKIKCt8Y7cIA-xPviDulSD-on-RiNBB1G7CLGTiW6u~Nsg4WukhhLfc6CtIVW2e43IdNgvdpAcoNzEgDTulAHe8uDpOPj1GB0G4j5u2xxpdbFqXtzk14-ZHahA-F-GveXnkxJ6ZHxhm~l4NKJa5b9h4QyesqgTLzOFDYQLFcaToWr5RFKDrMKI5oV1c32pftj9WVQPbYWZtNTGuYjzkZWeUahFx9KgD0ZyELu-vd1wRGqfN-w14Aq5T2dZBapBR4qNoBf~aaQ7PH4xrzIfgiJRdrsmckzZ1admAj~dC2v4wmh-apQQThCNiO3gTXJ5HbNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Caroline County Board of Commissioners voted on April 15 to draft a letter asking Maryland’s governor to veto Senate Bill 931 and to issue an executive order that the commissioners say would return more local control over utility‑scale solar siting.

Jay Falstad, representing the Farmers Alliance for Rural Maryland, and Rob Davis, a Kent County farmer and Alliance member, told commissioners they oppose the bill because, despite amendments, it would allow up to 5% of county acreage to be taken for solar projects on properties over 2 megawatts. Falstad said a 5% cap in Caroline County “could be up to 4,500 acres” and described the potential impact as significant for the Eastern Shore agricultural economy. The group said it will ask the governor to veto SB931 and seek an executive order to protect Eastern Shore counties from disproportionate siting.

Commissioners and presenters raised additional concerns: battery storage safety is not addressed in the bill, oversight of private solar developers (described by speakers as land speculators disguised as solar companies), protections for preserved farmland, and a perceived risk that eminent‑domain authority or other future measures could be used to acquire land. Multiple speakers said the state process and decisions by Public Utility Law Judges can preempt local zoning decisions.

Commissioner action: following the Alliance’s presentation, a commissioner moved that the board draft a letter to the governor asking him to veto the bill and to use executive authority to return more control to counties. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the public record.

Commissioners who spoke in the discussion included Franklin Bartz, J. Travis Breeding and one commissioner who said the county’s local cap (referenced during the meeting as 2,000 acres) should be defended. Commissioner Burks stated, “we’re at 2,000 acres. That’s our cap,” and said he would stand with farmers to defend it. Falstad and Davis urged sustained county engagement, noting the Farmers Alliance had grown to roughly 750 members statewide and had circulated video testimony.

Presenters also pressed safety and operational questions about battery energy storage systems, saying “there’s nothing in this bill that mentions battery storage safety.” One presenter said the administration had promised fire‑safety guidance but that the group had not received it. Commissioners indicated battery storage is an outstanding local concern and said they will insist on clear safety standards before allowing storage facilities.

The board’s voice vote to draft the letter does not by itself change county law; it directs staff to prepare a formal letter for signature and submittal to the governor’s office. Presenters said further legislative and legal work will continue whether or not the governor vetoes the bill.","After testimony from the Farmers Alliance for Rural Maryland, the Caroline County commissioners voted by voice to draft a letter asking the governor to veto Senate Bill 931 and to pursue executive action to restore more local control over solar siting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604113,"Caroline County agrees to fund Delmarva Community Transit at $110,000 for FY2026",965,1254000,2219000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2994492-e459975dcb92f28234cfabc5a367eb08&start=1254&end=2219","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2994492-e459975dcb92f28234cfabc5a367eb08/thumbnail_1254000.jpg","/articles/6604113/Caroline-County/Maryland/Caroline-County-agrees-to-fund-Delmarva-Community-Transit-at-110000-for-FY2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604113-e7085f3b498135b3b59479c45540eac8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448264&Signature=JJzvlb3djb3qbCirp2yqUz~u2lMdlUzF8h5~VIiyZugKpw9ciPBcBgJK-wNgdwTY--mA8tS4tkppdHk4o8v3iGs6ucnyPkFG9j~~v4pdUW7gr3-93RK7yxnbjIQaaqiuv38RMZViI20orQ~YXAC7zvm6TvJ1bP63tRQg4EsLZzkKI0uscJeLEV2Zpt~kTG6Z3Yh-kZBtqOFGzS3j6kiXzGFhq3fx7JW9XlbK2wZlAb-JN3KJaT25m3amVKf8nADn9u566sdk4Tv8Ciokn8xYdUfPkgjNwgvlsmoGhAe6yhvtJFrcIZfcjx0R82nb5dgNBzKfop-ocPglfKA9nrwVhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Caroline County Board of Commissioners directed staff on April 15 to finalize the county’s proposed FY2026 budget with a $110,000 allocation for Delmarva Community Transit, the county’s rural public transportation provider.

The commissioners acted after a presentation from Andy Hollis, executive director of Delmarva Community Transit, and Henry (transit director), who outlined three funding scenarios originally requested by DCT: the full $157,000 ask, an intermediate $110,000 option and a $90,000 option that would require deeper cuts to routes. Hollis told the board the $110,000 option “gives you your busiest routes” and would reduce service impacts compared with a $90,000 cut.

Commissioners discussed which routes would be cut under smaller allocations. Staff said the county currently supports five county routes; if the county funded only $10,000 (typo for $90,000 in the discussion) the system would lose two routes (identified in testimony as routes 5P and 7) and one mod route identified as Mod 70 would be eliminated. Henry said the Mod 70 morning-to-Afternoon run averaged about five riders on many trips and that some riders are consistent daily commuters to Greensboro.

The board discussed potential funding sources to avoid cutting service. Danny Fox, deputy county administrator, said the county had two potential non‑general‑fund sources to consider: opioid restitution money (which must be tied to mitigation programs) and newly available cannabis excise tax allocations (House Bill 1364), which may permit transportation uses but requires further guidance from the state. Fox said he had reached out to the Office of Statewide Equity to clarify allowable uses. Commissioners agreed finance staff would identify whether those restricted funds could be used; if not, the county will cover the increase from the general fund.

Commissioner Franklin Bartz, Commissioner Larry C. Porter and Commissioner John (J. Travis) Breeding expressed support for the $110,000 level. Bartz noted the riders “don’t have any alternative” and described the service as necessary for work, medical dialysis and shopping trips. Commissioner Ford said he would support the $110,000 request and emphasized the county’s long‑running flat funding level prior to the request.

Deputy administrator Fox and staff said they will update the proposed budget documents to reflect the $110,000 figure and post the public copy ahead of the May 6 public hearing. The board did not take a roll‑call vote; the direction was entered into the record and will be incorporated in the proposed FY2026 budget for formal adoption later in the process.

The DCT presentation also included operational details: the Route 5A morning and evening schedules, transfer points at Feddersburg (spelled Fettlesburg in testimony) and Easton, and an intention to pilot more demand‑response (mod) service inside Denton as a cost‑effective alternative to underused fixed routes.

Staff asked DCT to return with clearer ridership counts after additional outreach and marketing; commissioners emphasized the need to reduce “empty buses” and to improve trip counting so that future funding decisions can be tied to demonstrable ridership.

Next steps: county finance staff will identify funding sources and finalize the proposed budget for the May 6 public hearing; DCT will continue measuring ridership and report back to the board.","After hearing route-level data and service-impact scenarios, the Caroline County commissioners directed staff to finalize the FY2026 budget reflecting a $110,000 allocation to Delmarva Community Transit while staff will identify the funding source.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board enacts two local bills on BZA term limits and wastewater facility zoning; action taken in legislative session

Caroline commissioners back letter asking governor to veto state bill on large-scale solar

Caroline County agrees to fund Delmarva Community Transit at $110,000 for FY2026