Public Hearings - CHR 3-2016 Clean Energy Loan Program

August 9, 2016

PUBLIC HEARING
CHR 3-2016 CLEAN ENERGY

A public hearing was held today at 6:09 p.m. in the County Commissioners’ Hearing Room, County Government Center, 400 High Street, Chestertown, MD, for the purpose of discussing the proposed amendment to Code Home Rule Bill No. 3-2016 which is AN ACT to amend Chapter 152 Taxation to add Article VII Clean Energy Loan Program, §§ 152-30, 152-31, and 152-32 to the Code of Public Local Laws of Kent County, Maryland, for the purpose of defining certain terms: establishing a clean energy loan program for commercial property owners; establishing the scope of and eligibility for the clean energy loan program; providing for qualifying criteria; establishing a calculation of the clean energy loan surcharge, providing for a recorded notice; providing for the collection of loan payments; establishing default procedures; providing for financing of a loan under the clean energy loan program; providing for the application of this Act; and generally related to the clean energy loan program and real property taxes as consistent with provisions and the authority of the Annotated State Code of Maryland, Local Government Article, §1-1102.

County Commissioners, William W. Pickrum, Ronald H. Fithian and William A. Short were in attendance as well as Thomas Yeager, County Attorney.

Commissioner Pickrum read the notice of public hearing into record. The rules for public hearings are in effect.

Commissioner Pickrum invited comments and questions from the audience. No one signed the testimony log. Mr. Yeager reiterated that the loans made under the program are private loans and do not require County funds. The County Office of Finance facilitates part of the program. Katherine Magruder, Executive Director, Maryland Clean Energy Center; Genevieve Sherman, Managing Director, PACE Financial Servicing; and Gerard Neely, Manager, Maryland PACE Program, were present at the July 19, 2016 meeting, and gave an in-depth presentation of the Clean Energy Loan Program. Commissioner Pickrum stated that Code Home Rule Bill No. 3-2016 will be considered for a vote on September 6, 2016.

Written comments will be accepted in the County Commissioners’ Office until Friday, August 12, 2016, at 12:00 p.m.

The hearing was taped for reference and the Commissioners adjourned the public hearing at 6:12 p.m.







Respectfully submitted,



April E. Bitter, Deputy Clerk


Approved:
William W. Pickrum, President
The County Commissioners
of Kent County, Maryland