June 16 Board of Public Works Meeting: What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel, which includes Governor Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot, and State Treasurer Nancy Kopp — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies — many of which have an effect on county governments.

The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations in its June 16, 2021 meeting.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all considerations and approvals during the meeting.

  • Anne Arundel
    • A grant agreement for a $1,000,000 grant to the Anne Arundel County Community Development Services, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of infrastructure improvements for the Severn Intergenerational Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 5 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).
    • A request from the Maryland Historical Trust to approve a $100,000 grant under the Historic Preservation Capital Grants Program to the Brandywine Foundation, Inc. for building repairs and renovations at Whitehall (1915 Whitehall Road, Annapolis). Whitehall is an outstanding example of a five-part Georgian country house, constructed between 1764 and 1765 and enlarged in 1769. Much of the interior woodwork is attributed to William Buckland and the plasterwork is documented as that of John Rawlings. The house was built for Maryland Governor Horatio Sharpe and later owned by the Ridout Family (Item 13.A of the Secretary’s Agenda).
    • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $38,000 grant to the Board of Trustees of the American Legion Guy C. Partlett Post 7 for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the American Legion Guy C. Partlett Post 7 facility, including improvements to the building’s parking lot. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 1 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).
  • Baltimore City
    • A request from the Maryland Historical Trust to approve a $100,000 grant under the Historic Preservation Capital Grants Program to the Roland Park Community Foundation, Inc. to rehabilitate the exterior of the Roland Park Water Tower (4210 Roland Avenue). The Water Tower was constructed in 1905 to serve as a potable water supply station for surrounding communities and was taken out of service in the 1930s. The octagonal masonry Italianate structure was designed by the water company’s architect, William Fizone, and constructed by John Stack and Sons, who built many of Baltimore City’s Victorian Age buildings (Item 13.F of the Secretary’s Agenda).
    • A request to certify matching funds and enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $325,000 to the Board of Directors of the 40 West Assistance and Referral Center, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the 40 West Assistance and Referral Center facility. The Grantee has submitted documentation of sufficient funds to meet the matching fund requirement for this project (Item 6 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).
    • A request from the Maryland Department of Health to approve a $4,354,127 grant to Project PHASE, Inc. for the design and renovation of the Grantee’s 60,000+ sq. ft. facility located at 3549 Old Frederick Road. The renovations will create 56 permanent, supportive housing units for formerly homeless veterans, and create an additional 34 emergency housing beds. There will also be associated wellness service space for those suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders. The total cost of the renovation is $6,350,903 (Item 7 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).
  • Baltimore
    • A request from the Maryland Historical Trust to approve a $100,000 grant under the Historic Preservation Capital Grants Program to Friends of Jerusalem Mill, Inc. to make a number of repairs and renovations to Jerusalem Mansion (2807 Jerusalem Road, Kingsville). The Mansion was built in stages beginning in the mid-1700s and later enlarged by the Lee family, founders of Jerusalem Mill Village, one of the oldest, most complete, and least altered mill villages in Maryland. From 1954 through 2018, the mansion was occupied by the Pullen family. Dr. Phyllis Pullen was one of the first female doctors in the area, and one of the last “country doctors.” Her medical office in the mansion is still intact today (Item 13.C of the Secretary’s Agenda).
    • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $53,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Upper Falls Lodge #175, “IOOF”, Inc., Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Upper Falls Old Fellows Lodge building. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 2 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).
    • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $350,200 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Baltimore County to acquire .23 acres of property (322 Worthington Road) along the planned Six Bridges Trail which connects multiple park and recreation sites in the Towson community (Item 1A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
    • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $100,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Fire Museum of Maryland, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Fire Museum of Maryland facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 4 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).
    • a recommendation from the Department of General Services to grant a one-year extension to the Board of Directors of the People’s Homesteading Group, Inc. from the automatic termination of $50,000 in capital grant funds for the Greenmount Constructions Jobs Training Center. The Grantee did not meet the 7-year deadline before the authorization terminated because the project was delayed (Item 36 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).
  • Calvert
    • A request by the Department of Natural Resources to commit $25,000 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Calvert County to complete its 2022 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan, consistent with State planning requirements (Item 2A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
  • Caroline
    • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $97,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 7.46 +/-acres (Pepper property) in Caroline County. This property is adjacent to the Easton-Clayton Rail Trail and will be managed by the Maryland Park Service as an addition to Tuckahoe State Park. The acquisition will simplify park management, eliminate management issues, and improve access to the trail by increasing the area available for public parking (Item 4A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
  • Carroll
    • A request to provide a $662,986.85 grant to The Land Preservation Trust from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 111.75-acre conservation easement in the Piney Run Rural Legacy Area (Falls Road Farm, LLC property). Acquisition of this conservation easement protects productive agricultural and forest lands as well as providing protection to 3,550 linear feet of forested stream buffers along unnamed tributaries to Georges Run, which drains into the Prettyboy Reservoir. The easement will be co-held by The Land Preservation Trust and DNR. Easement value: $5,609.89/acre (Item 15A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
  • Charles
    • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $2,345,825 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Charles County to design and construct the new Waldorf Park to meet active and passive outdoor recreation needs of one of the fastest-growing areas in the county. This will include basketball courts, tennis and pickleball courts, a playground and a tot lot with ADA adaptive features, a picnic shelter, restrooms, paved fitness path, multipurpose fields, nature trails, and a dog park (Item 3A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
  • Dorchester
    • A request to provide a $242,291.00 grant to The Conservation Fund from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 184.33-acre conservation easement in the Harriet Tubman Rural Legacy Area (Malkus 4 Business Trust property). The U.S. Department of the Navy is contributing $222,500 towards the cost of the Easement. Acquisition of this easement will protect productive agricultural and forest lands and approximately 8,400 linear feet of riparian buffer along the Little Blackwater River in the Fishing Bay watershed. Preserving this land from development provides additional resiliency to the effects of climate change on the Eastern Shore. The easement will be co-held by the Department of Natural Resources and the United States of America through the Department of the Navy. The Conservation Fund is paying compliance costs. Easement value: $2,332.77/acre. (Item 10A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
  • Frederick
    • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant a total of $500,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of two adjacent properties, to be managed as additions to South Mountain State Park by the Maryland Park Service for a total of 42.34 acres in Frederick County:
      • $100,000 for 15.54 acres (Sowers Property). This completely forested property buffers a year-round, fast-moving stream that is the headwaters of Catoctin Creek and its watershed. The mature hardwood forest on the property will protect Forest Interior Dwelling Species habitat, provide long-term water quality protection, and expand the critical buffer between the Appalachian Trail and encroaching development (Item 8A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
      • $400,000 for 26.8 +/- acres (Yinger Property). This completely forested property is located along Mountain Church Road and contains the headwaters of Broad Run. The Maryland Park Service will manage the property as an addition to South Mountain State Park. The mature hardwood forest on the property provides habitat for Forest Interior Dwelling Species and a small pond on the property provides habitat for aquatic wildlife. The acquisition will provide long-term water quality protection of the Catoctin Creek Watershed, improve access, increase recreational opportunities, and buffer the Appalachian Trail (Item 9A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
    • A request from the Maryland Historical Trust to approve a $100,000 grant under the Historic Preservation Capital Grants Program to the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society to renovate the F.W. Fraley General Merchandise Store (12623 Catoctin Furnace Historical Society). The Store originally operated as the Catoctin Iron Company store from the early 19th-century until 1903. F. W. Fraley, Sr. was a clerk in the company store and after the furnace shut down, he moved the structure to the middle of the village in 1906. After moving what is now the rear section of the store, Fraley built the newer section at the front to enlarge the store in 1910. The store continued to operate as a general merchandise store until 1974 (Item 13.B of the Secretary’s Agenda).
  • Harford
    • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $25,000 grant to the County Executive and County Council of Harford County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a canoe and kayak launch facility at Deer Creek. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 3 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).
  • Howard
    • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $545,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 3.34 +/- acres (Greisman property) in Howard County. This partially forested property is located along Landing Road and will be managed by the Maryland Park Service as an addition to Patapsco Valley State Park. The acquisition will expand public recreational opportunities and provide more parking. Conservation of the small tributary located on the property that feeds Cascade Falls will protect water quality in the Patapsco River Lower North Branch Watershed (Item 7A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
  • Washington
    • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $310,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 35 +/- acres (Buczowski property) in Washington County. This forested property is located along Crystal Falls Road and will be managed by the Maryland Park Service as an addition to South Mountain State Park. The property lies within the Maryland Blue Ridge Important Bird Area as designated by the National Audubon Society. The acquisition will increase recreational opportunities, protect Forest Interior Dwelling Species habitat, conserve wooded forest buffers that protect downstream water quality for cold-water fish species, and improve access and boundary line management (Item 6A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
  • St. Mary’s 
    • $79,238.02: 47.02-acre (Biondi 47 property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable agricultural and forest lands. The property includes approximately 8,500 linear feet of riparian buffers along wetlands served by Jutland Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River. Easement value: $4810.69/acre (Item 12A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • $274,952.69: 189.25 acres (Biondi 189 property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable agricultural and forest lands. The property also includes approximately 9,250 linear feet of riparian buffers along Jutland Creek. Easement value: $4,964.05/acre (Item 13A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
    • $89,916.30: 45.72 acres (Tennyson 45 property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable agricultural and forest lands. The property includes approximately 2,500 linear feet of riparian buffers along the St. Mary’s River, a tributary of the Potomac River. Easement value: $4,810.69/acre (Item 14A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).
  • Talbot
    • A request from the Maryland Historical Trust to approve two grants totaling $200,000 under the Historic Preservation Capital Grants Program to the following (Item 13 of the Secretary’s Agenda):
      • $100,000 to Historic Easton, Incorporated towards the rehabilitation of the Asbury United Methodist Church (formerly Easton Asbury M.E. Church) (18 S. Higgins Street, Easton). This church is the oldest African American church structure in Easton and the second oldest African American church structure in Talbot County. It was dedicated by Frederick Douglass in 1878. In the 1930s it became a temporary high school for Black students and is now a community center for a historically African American enclave known as the Hill (Item 13.D of the Secretary’s Agenda).
      • $100,000 to Whitehaven Heritage Association, Inc. towards the rehabilitation of the Whitehaven United Methodist Church (2712 Church Street, Whitehaven). This vernacular church was constructed in 1892 and is most significant because of its interior woodwork, unique among Wicomico County churches. The interior heart pine paneling, in a herringbone pattern, was constructed by an anonymous craftsman, whose artistry suggests familiarity with boat building techniques. While no longer used for church services, it retains an influence on the traditions of the Lower Eastern Shore communities (Item 13.F of the Secretary’s Agenda).

Visit the BPW website for more information.