The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including Governor Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments.

Allegany County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $162,900 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Allegany County to purchase and install new playground equipment and safety surfacing at Frost Elementary School(Item 1A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $750,000 grant to the Greenway Avenue Stadium Capital Improvement Fund, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of infrastructure improvements at Greenway Avenue Stadium.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 15 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Anne Arundel County

• A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $100,000 to the Board of Directors of the Anne Arundel County Historical Society, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Benson-Hammond House. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 3 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $3,000,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Critical Care Unit at Baltimore Washington Medical Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 12 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request from the Maryland Department of Health to approve a $10,061 grant to Opportunity Ministries, Inc to replace the roof at the Grantee’s facility, located at 105 Padfield Blvd, Glenn Burnie. The property provides recovery housing for fifteen male adults. The total project cost is $15,130 (Item 25 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Baltimore City

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $200,000 grant to the Board of Trustees of the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s Downtown Theatre for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s Downtown Theatre. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 1 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $2,000,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and equipping of infrastructure improvements at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant ;
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $75,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Clinton Street Community Center for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of two properties in the Clinton Street Community. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 13 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new funding up to $7,703,887 ($5,777,915 loan + $1,925,972 grant) to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore for the WC-1285 Caroline Street & Vicinity Water Main Replacement project.  Work includes replacing 3” to 12” diameter mains and various valve and hydrant replacements. The project will improve hydraulic capacity and water quality and remove corrosion (Item 14 of the Secretary’s Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $200,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Belair-Edison Neighborhoods, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of commercial properties in the Belair-Edison community. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 2 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $75,000 grant to the McElderry Park Community Association for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the McElderry Park Resource Center.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 8 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new funding up to $4,532,511 ($3,399,383 loan + $1,133,128 grant) to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore for the WC-1241R Water Main Replacements in Aisquith St and Old York Rd Vicinity project.  Work will include replacing water mains and various valves and hydrants in the Eastern 3rd Pressure Zone. The project will improve hydraulic capacity and water quality and remove corrosion (Item 12 of the Secretary’s Agenda);
• A request from the Maryland Department of Health to approve a $405,314 grant to Total Health Care, Inc. to assist with the renovation of a portion of its headquarters building at 1501 Division Street. This project will create a new, modern, efficient, and ADA-compliant primary care clinic and pharmacy to serve area citizens.  The total cost of the project is $540,419 (Item 23 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new funding up to $7,993,799 ($5,995,349 loan + $1,998,450 grant) to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore for the WC-1274 Carrolton Ave & Vicinity Water Main Replacement project.  The work includes replacing 6” to 20” diameter mains and various valve and hydrant The project will improve hydraulic capacity and water quality and remove corrosion (Item 13 of the Secretary’s Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $150,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Youth Educational Services, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Langston Hughes Community, Business and Resource Center.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 19 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Baltimore County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $583,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 6 acres (Gallagher property) in Baltimore County. This property includes woodlands and meadows and is located immediately across from the entrance to the Hammerman Area of Gunpowder Falls State Park. Acquisition will expand public recreational opportunities, protect an area of contiguous Forest Interior Dwelling Species habitat, provide opportunities for reforestation, improve boundary management, and provide an operational presence at the busy park entrance. The Maryland Park Service will manage the property as an addition to the park (Item 5A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request to provide a $646,911.25 grant to The Manor Conservancy, Inc. from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 73.06-acre conservation easement in the Manor Rural Legacy Area (Kehoe property). Acquisition of this easement will protect both agricultural and forested land. The easement provides for 2,000 linear feet of forested stream buffers along an unnamed tributary of the Third Mine Branch, which flows to the Little Falls and then to the Gunpowder Falls in the Loch Raven Reservoir watershed.  The easement will be held by the Department of Natural Resources and The Manor Conservancy, Inc. Easement value: $9,184/acre (Item 9A 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 Friends of the Gunpowder Falls State Park Graham Area Equestrian Center, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Graham Equestrian Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 14 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $100,000 grant to the Board of Trustees of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the St. Luke’s housing facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 9 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Cecil County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $1,500,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Bainbridge Development Corporation for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of public infrastructure to support future development of the site of the former Bainbridge Naval Training Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 5 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Dorchester County

• A request from the Department of Housing and Community Development for approval to provide a $400,000 loan under the Neighborhood BusinessWorks program, which is a Smart Growth tool for revitalization through business creation or expansion in designated revitalization areas. This particular loan will be made to Pine Street Community Market LLC for a project located at 711 Pine Street, Cambridge. Over the last five years, the loan recipient has worked to improve vacant lots within the Cambridge community at the corner of Pine and Wells Streets. The project will be for the construction of a one story 2,200 sq ft modern retail market called The Pine Street Community Market. It will offer dry goods and prepared foods. The market will draw customers that live within walking distance to the site. Additionally, eight parking spaces will be located on the site (Wells Street) to accommodate drive up customers (Item 8 of the Secretary’s Agenda).

Frederick County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $399,000 from Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Frederick County for the following projects:
  • City Pool Park: $95,000 to purchase and install new playground equipment and safety surfacing (Item 2A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Kim Weddle Park: $99,000 to purchase and install new playground equipment and safety surfacing (Item 2A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Brunswick Sports Complex: $85,000 to purchase a nine-station, handicap accessible portable restroom trailer (Item 2A.4 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • Wenner Park: $100,000 to purchase and install new playground equipment and safety surfacing (Item 2A.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
  • City Park: $20,000 to replace the existing wooden footbridge with a metal galvanized bridge (Item 2A.5 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• Two items from the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Partnership Rental Housing Program, which finances rental housing that will be occupied by individuals with incomes at or below 50% of the statewide median income. The following projects are located on West South Street, Frederick:
  • A $2,000,000 loan for South Street Families, which will help finance new construction and rehabilitation of 56 one-and two-family units (Item 9 of the Secretary’s Agenda); and
  • A $1,450,000 loan for South Street Senior, which will help finance new construction of a 96-unit age-restricted mid-rise apartment community (Item 10 of the Secretary’s Agenda).

Montgomery County

• A request from the Maryland Department of Health to approve a $139,776 grant to Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children, Inc. to assist with the acquisition of a property located at 2011 Rain Garden Alley, Montgomery Village, once the residence is completed. The property will be used to provide housing for individuals with developmental disabilities. The contract sale price of the property is $185,568 (Item 25 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $7,000 grant to the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County for the design, construction, repair, reconstruction, renovation, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Sandy Spring Meadow community basketball court. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 4 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $200,000 grant to the Commissioners of the Town of Brookeville for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of improvements to the Town of Brookeville roadways. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 10 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Prince George’s County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $82,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 6.86 +/-acres (Grigsby property) in Prince George’s County. This completely forested property with frontage on Dent Road will be managed by the Maryland Forest Service as an addition to Cedarville State Forest. Acquisition will protect Forest Interior Dwelling Species habitat, contribute to long-term water quality protection of the Potomac River watershed, and improve access for forest management (Item 6A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $150,000 grant to the Allentown Splash, Tennis, and Fitness Park for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a concession area and related pool amenities for the Park. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 7 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $250,000 grant to the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a new amphitheater, located at Central Park. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 21 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $509,450 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Prince George’s County to acquire 127.59 acres of an existing golf course to add to Western Branch Stream Valley Park (Item 3A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request to enter into grant agreements for the following non-matching grants totaling $900,000 to the Mayor and City Council of the City of Hyattsville for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of:
  • The Hyattsville Police Headquarters facility — $500,000 (Item 16 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
  • The Hyattsville Team Activity and Mentoring Center — $400,000 (Item 17 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Queen Anne’s County

• A request to provide a $282,349.93 grant to the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 67.57-acre conservation easement in the Foreman Branch Rural Legacy Area (Davis property). Acquisition of this easement will protect agricultural and forested land contributing to the permanent protection of a large block of rural and working lands in the heart of the Chester River watershed and will protect approximately 1,135 linear feet of forested and vegetative stream buffers to Foreman Branch, a tributary of the Chester River. The easement will be co-held by the Department of Natural Resources and the County’s Commissioners. Easement value: $4,077/acre (Item 8A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Somerset County

• A request to provide a $139,579.77 grant to TheLower Shore Land Trust from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 60.70-acre conservation easement in the Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area (Bishop property) in Somerset County.  Acquisition of this easement will protect 60.70-acres of agricultural and forested land, contributing to the permanent protection of a large block of rural and working lands in the heart of the Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area. The easement includes 900 linear feet of forested buffer along Tony’s Creek, a tributary to Dividing Creek in the Pocomoke River watershed. The easement will be co-held by the Department of Natural Resources and the Lower Shore Land Trust.  Easement value: $2,067/acre (Item 7A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

St. Mary’s County

• A request by the Department of Natural Resources to commit $25,000 in Program Open Space funding allocated to St. Mary’s County to complete the County’s 2027 Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan, consistent with State planning requirements (Item 4A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $150,000 grant to the County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the St. Mary’s County Sports Complex.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 11 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $500,000 grant to the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of office and meeting space for the Innovative Center for Autonomous Systems.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 18 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Washington County

• A request to provide a $473,117.90 grant to the Washington County Commissioners from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 138.68-acre conservation easement in the Mid-Maryland Rural Legacy Area (Miller property). Acquisition of this easement will protect productive agricultural and forest lands, as well as provide approximately 6,500 linear feet of forested stream buffers to Marsh Run.  The easement will be held by Washington County. Easement value: $3,224.12/acre (Item 10A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Library Grant Awards — $7,500,000 total

• Calvert County, Twin Beaches, $2,500,000: Construct a new 17,788 GSF facility in North Beach to replace 4,620 GSF of leased space in Chesapeake Beach. With only 0.36 GSF per capita, the current facility does not meet the expectations of a 21st century library. The project is on schedule to award the construction contract in April 2022 and continue for 18 months. Initial construction funds were provided in FY 2022. The FY 2023 budget request is for remaining construction funds for the project. County Match 50%: $2,500,000;
• Caroline County, Denton, $917,000: Renovate the 15,000 NSF first floor of the Central Library, last significantly improved in 1995 along with a construction of a 4,547 SF addition. The first floor contains the majority of Caroline County’s main library services for 33,304 residents. This project will replace HVAC units at the end of their useful life, improve lighting, upgrade the emergency fire alarm system, enhance electrical capacity for increased technology, provide a family bathroom adjacent to the children’s areas, increase seating capacity, improve sight lines, create quiet areas, and bring the library into compliance with ADA requirements. Design funds were provided in FY 2022. The FY 2023 budget includes funding to complete construction. County Match (through a bequest to the Library) 21%: $244,000;
• Frederick County, Middletown, $1,000,000: Construct a new 15,426 GSF library facility in Middletown to replace a vastly undersized 2,917 GSF building constructed in 1991. The new library will be within walking distance to all area public schools and adjacent to a new single family home subdivision with 81 residences. The project has received considerable support from both Frederick County and the Town of Middletown. The FY 2023 budget request includes funding to complete construction and furnish/ equip the facility. County Match 50%: $1,000,000;
• Harford County, Bel Air, $1,414,000: Renovate the 53,964 SF Bel Air Library constructed in 1960 and renovated in 1996.The Harford County Public Library’s Facilities Master Plan provides insight into the unprecedented change that public libraries have experienced over the last two decades when this branch underwent its last renovation. The Library’s Strategic Plan 2019 focuses on several objectives including customer experience, flexible spaces and services. The project will address these goals. The FY 2023 request is for funding to begin construction. County Match 45%: $1,156,909;
• Prince George’s County, Baden, $1,549,000: Renovate the 4,910 SF former Baden Health Center into public library space for the Baden Branch which is currently located in 2,500 SF inside the adjacent Baden Elementary School. The current branch library does not have public restrooms or meeting space and can only be open when there are school personnel on site. An interior demolition of the health center was completed approximately five years ago for mold abatement, however the basic structure, constructed in 1970, is intact. This project will replace the windows, doors, roof and HVAC system as well as build out the interior with public space including a meeting room, a staff office, mechanical room and restrooms. The FY 2023 request is to complete construction. County Match 35%: $871,000; and
• Talbot County, St. Michael’s, $120,000: Renovate and expand the existing 7,716 SF St. Michaels Library constructed in 1981. The project will add 3,071 SF, a 40% increase in size, and result in a fully renovated 10,787 SF facility that will become the new hub of the community. With the exception of an expansion completed 17 years ago, part of the original facility’s infrastructure is over 40 years old and includes in the current structure a pre-engineered metal town garage from which the library was first built. The library has insufficient spaces for large community meetings, children, teens, collections, technology, study, and is not fully ADA compliant. The FY 2023 request is for design. Additional funds will be requested in FY 2024-25 to complete the project. County Match 50%: $120,000.