QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Wouldn’t you like to be governor for a day so you could fire Rich Hall?”
Commissioner Evan Slaughenhoupt expresses frustration over Maryland’s recently approved Septic Bill. Hall is the secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning.
Calvert County Department of Community Planning and Building Director Charles Johnston updated the county commissioners on a recent meeting he (Johnston) and members of his staff had with Maryland Department of Planning officials. Johnston’s summary, presented during the staff session prior to the commissioners’ Tuesday, July 31 meeting was not well received.
Johnston and department staff met with state officials about the possible impacts of the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012, which is better known as The Septic Bill. He indicated the possibility is strong that minor town centers such as St. Leonard, Dunkirk and Huntingtown, which are not served by public sewer, could have their priority funding area status compromised should the county fail to comply with The Septic Bill. Building a major subdivision or expanding a smaller residential development would appear to violate the statewide measure.
“We’re essentially being punished for all the good deeds we’ve done in the past,” said Johnston, alluding to Calvert County’s vaunted record for managing residential growth.
“Wouldn’t you like to be governor for a day so you could fire Rich Hall,” said Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R], referring to the secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning.
“At some point we are going to have to go toe-to-toe with them [state government],” said Commissioner Susan Shaw [R].
One opportunity for such a confrontation is tentatively set for next Tuesday, Aug. 7 when Hall and other department officials are scheduled to meet with the county commissioners.
Proponents of The Septic Bill contend its aim is to limit the creation of new resident
