Not a happy bunch. St. Mary’s Commissioners were split on approving a zoning law change that would allow the building of a new elementary school, until some back-room dealings allowed the issue to squeak through. From left are commissioners Tommy McKay, Kenny Dement, Larry Jarboe, Tom Mattingly and Dan Raley.  Bay Net photo by Sean Rice

The St. Mary’s Board of Commissioners held an illegal private meeting Tuesday afternoon, hastily called to hash out support for a law change to allow sewer lines to be extended into protected rural land.

The board rejected three motions to approve a zoning change that would allow the St. Mary’s Board of Education to build a new school on speculative Wildewood property in California.

Commissioners Dan Raley, Kenny Dement and Larry Jarboe stood firm against approving the zoning change, choosing environmental protections over a dire need for a new elementary school in the area.

“What it is education vs. the environment?” asked Board president Tommy McKay (R-Hollywood). “Education doesn’t have to be putted against these things.”

The issue sped through the approval process, gaining endorsement from county planning staff, planning commission, and state authorities.

The St. Mary’s School superintendent and School Board president looked on Tuesday as the commissioners voted twice to reject the proposal.

“What you have to understand is, my hang-up is we are establishing a precedence of running sewer pipes out into the RPD,” Raley (D-Great Mills) said, nearly yelling during the debate.

“We have sewer pipes out in the RPD today, it’s not a precedent,” replied commissioner Tom Mattingly (R-Leonardtown).

The school site property in is the Rural Preservation District (RPD), protected land not approved for development. Across the street from the school site is the current Wildewood development, which is in the Lexington Park Development District (LPDD).

The school board sought a quick decision from the board, so an option to purchase the 55 acres in question could be executed before the year ends.

Because the school site did not get positive test results for a private septic system, a change is needed to allow a sewer line extension to the property.

The zoning change, which eventually was approved Tuesday, allows only for this specific sewer line to be extended serving only the proposed school.

Several members seemed to like McKay’s earlier proposal to modify the boundaries of the LPDD to include the school site, and move the Myrtle Point park property into the RPD as compensation. That process would take months, and delay the school building even longer.

Commissioner Mattingly said the Myrtle Point proposal is mudding the waters of the school site decision, and should be separated from the discussion.

“This is realistic common sense approach,” he said of the sewer easement, stating Wildewood is right next to development district. “There not an iron curtain around the designated LPDD … it’s a line on a piece of paper.”

The board seemed to realize the Maryland open meetings laws are also just lines on paper, a