Title 13. Regional Development Resources — Subtitle 6. Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Commissioners” means the Board of County Commissioners of Calvert County, Charles County, or St. Mary’s County, respectively.

“Council” means the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland.

“Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Council.

“Plan” means a regional plan that the Council prepares for the region.

“Region” means Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties.

There is a Tri–County Council for Southern Maryland.

The Council consists of:

The Council shall establish committees to conduct its work.

The membership of a committee may include individuals who are not Council members or elected officials.

The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the Council.

The Council shall establish the powers and duties of the Executive Director.

The Executive Director is entitled to the compensation that the Council sets.

The Council may employ a staff and retain professional consultants.

The Council shall:

The Executive Director may make agreements with local planning units in the region for temporary transfer or joint use of staff.

The State and Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties may jointly finance the Council and its activities.

The Council may accept additional money from any other public or private source.

In this section, “property manager” means an entity responsible for the management and maintenance of real property, including:

The Council may operate in the region.

The Council may:

The Council shall publish its rules.

Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, in order to accomplish the purposes of this subtitle, the Council may use any money available to it to finance the purchase or lease of property only by:

If the Council determines that money should be used to finance the purchase or lease of property under subsection (a) of this section, the Council, in accordance with State procurement law, shall:

prepare studies of the region’s resources with respect to existing and emerging problems of industry, commerce, transportation, population, housing, agriculture, public services, local governments, and any other matters relevant to regional planning;

participate with other governmental units, educational institutions, and private organizations in the coordination of the research activities; and

provide information to:

The Council may:

guide a coordinated, adjusted, efficient, and economic development of the region in a manner that will best promote the health, safety, order, convenience, prosperity, and welfare of the residents of the region in accordance with present and future needs and resources;

provide for patterns of urbanization and the uses of land and resources for trade, industry, recreation, forestry, agriculture, and tourism;

create conditions favorable to the development of human resources;

identify the public interest and the necessity for public action and intergovernmental cooperation and coordination in the region; and

coordinate with efforts of the private sector in the region.

a statement of the objectives, standards, and principles sought to be expressed in the plan;

recommendations for the most desirable pattern and intensity of general land use in the region in the light of the best available information concerning natural environmental factors, the present and prospective economic and demographic basis of the region, and the relation of land use in the region to land use in adjoining areas;

recommendations for the general circulation pattern for the region including land, water, and air transportation and communication facilities, used for movement within the region or to and from adjoining areas;

recommendations on the need for and proposed general location of public and private works and facilities that, because of their function, size, extent, or for any other reason, are of a regional rather than a purely local concern;

recommendations for the long–range programming and financing of capital projects and facilities;

recommendations for meeting the housing needs of existing and prospective immigrant populations of the region;

recommendations for the development of programs and improvements in the region for health services, manpower planning, employment opportunity, education, elimination of poverty, and law enforcement; and

any other appropriate recommendations on current and impending problems that may affect the region.

On or before the date of the hearing:

The Council shall reevaluate the plan for the development of the region at least every 4 years, after the election of State and local officials.

The Council may review:

Before applying to a unit of the State or federal government for a loan or grant for a project, a political subdivision in the region shall submit the application to the Council for its review.

The Council shall forward its findings and determinations to the referring political subdivision and to the appropriate State or federal unit.

a governmental unit in the region may not adopt a plan, or amendment to a plan, having a regional impact until the plan is referred to the Council for its consideration, review, and recommendations; and

a road, park, public way, public building, or other development that is regional in nature or affects an area greater than a single unit of government may not be constructed or authorized in the region until the proposed location and its extent are referred to the Council for consideration, review, and recommendations.