The Board of County Commissioners for Cecil County met for a special session at the County Administrative Building, 107 North Street, Elkton, MD on August 23, 2005.  The following members of the Board were present:

Nelson K. Bolender, President
Harry A. Hepbron, Vice President
Phyllis Kilby, Commissioner
William C. Manlove, Commissioner
Mark H. Guns, Commissioner

Constituting a full Board.

The meeting was called to order by President Bolender at 2:00 p.m.

-AMENDMENT TO MASTER WATER & SEWER PLAN –

-ASTON POINTE –

The purpose of this meeting is for the consideration of an amendment to the Master Water and Sewer Plan from the Aston Pointe Development Group for inclusion to plan.  This meeting was held pursuant to the January 4, 2005 Board of County Commissioners - Public Hearing on the Amendment to the Master Water & Sewer Plan – Aston Pointe Development.  At the conclusion of public comment of that meeting, President Bolender made a motion to postpone any decision by the Board until such a time that a review of the application be conducted by the Maryland Department of the Environment and/or Maryland Water Resources Administration to determine if approximately 400,000 gallons of water is available from wells to be drilled on the property that can be supplied to the County’s water system, and the possible draw down on adjoining wells. 

Mr. Eric Sennstrom, Director, Planning, Zoning, Parks & Recreation presented the Board with the request of the Aston Pointe Development Group for inclusion to Cecil County’s Master Water & Sewer Plan.  He also provided the Board with an updated timeline of this request.

Mr. Matt Carter, Director, Public Works, presented the Board with the August 19, 2005 correspondence from John Grace, Maryland Department of the Environment, Source Protection & Appropriation Division.  Mr. Carter relayed the findings of the July 2005 Aston Development Group and Geo-Technology Associates, Inc., report containing aquifer test results for public well #4 and preliminary yield evaluations for PW-3 and PW-9 and their conclusions. 

-COMMISSIONER’S QUESTIONS/COMMENTS –

President Bolender commented relative to correspondence that he received from John Williams relative to inconsistencies in the report from Maryland Department of the Environment. He also presented concerns from ARCA about the County’s financial role in said testing.  He asked Mr. Carter to respond.

Mr. Carter informed the Board that after review of the correspondence from Mr. Williams, by he and John Grace, it was determined, that the concerns of Mr. Williams were unfounded. He also advised the Board that the County has not paid for any testing for this project the sole financial responsibility is that of the developer.

Commissioner Manlove commented about the report’s findings relative to the watersheds servicing the area and the allowable annual withdraw averages. 

Commissioner Guns expressed concern about ownership and supervision of the wells and allowable water withdraw upon completion of the project.

Commissioner Hepbron commented relating to recharge of the water through the county’s wastewater treatment facilities.

Discussion took place between the members of the Board, Director Carter and Dwight Thomey, County Attorney relative to the next steps in the process of obtaining a permit from Maryland Department of Environment, if this action item was to be approved at this time.  There was also discussion relating to ways to minimize water and wastewater allocations in the future in this service area.

Mr. Carter relayed to the Board the proposed agreement between the County and Aston Pointe Developers relative to the delivery of the wells; an elevated storage tank; gravity line to the Meadowview Wastewater Treatment Plant; as well as a benefit assessment for connect fees.

Discussion took place between Commissioner Guns and Matt Carter relative to County’s current allocation of water from United Water.

Discussion took place between Commissioner Kilby, Eric Sennstrom and President Bolender relating to the motion made by President Bolender at the public hearing on January 4, 2005, and its relevancy today.  Further discussion took place relating to permitting process for ground water allocation.

President Bolender called for a motion to amend the Master Water Sewer Plan with the inclusion of the Aston Pointe Development.

Motion was made by Vice President Hepbron to approve the proposed amendment to the Master Water and Sewer Plan.  Motion was seconded by President Bolender. 

VOTE:

Bolender – Y             Hepbron – Y             Kilby – N

Manlove – N             Guns – N

The motion was defeated by a 3-2 vote.

There being no further business of the Board the meeting concluded.

Alfred C. Wein, Jr.
County Administrator

Approved:
Nelson K. Bolender, President