INVITATION TO BIDDERS

The Town of St. Michaels, located in beautiful Talbot County, Maryland, is seeking proposals from qualified firms/individuals to provide comprehensive grant writing/grant administration services for a variety of local, state and federal grant opportunities.  The selected firm/individual will play a critical role in obtaining and administering grants to address a variety of projects including, but not limited to: Flood mitigation measures as a result of sea level rise; enhancement of recreational amenities in the community including new playground equipment; extension of the Town’s nature trail and development of the newly acquired San Domingo Creek Park, a 7-acre waterfront park;  and lastly, domestic water infrastructure improvements to address the replacement of lead pipes  per new federal regulations. The selected firm/individual will serve on an “as needed basis, on-call basis” and charge for services either on a hourly rate or negotiated as a lump sum per grant project cost.

Please read the attached Request for Proposals and additional documents for a more detailed description of our request.

Click here for the RFP packet
Additional RFP documents here

Submission Date:

Sealed proposals are due on or before July 22, 2024, by 2:00pm. The proposal may be hand delivered or mailed to the Town of St. Michaels, 201 Boundary Lane, PO Box 206, St. Michaels, Maryland 21663. Any proposals received after that time will not be accepted. Opening of proposals will commence on July 22, 2024 at 2:00pm in the St. Michaels Town Office, located at 201 Boundary Lane, St. Michaels, Maryland.

The submittal deadline, review and award of a contract is anticipated to be as follows:

• RFP Advertised                                                        – Week of June 16, 2024
• Proposal Due Date                                                  – July 22, 2024 by 2:00pm
• Opening (with Town Clerk)                                 – July 22, 2024 at 2:00pm
• Interviews (if needed)                                           – TBD
• Town Commission Discussion                           – August 14, 2024
• Town Commission Bid Award                            – TBD
• Commencement of Contract                               – TBD

For questions related to this RFP, please direct correspondence to the Town Administrator, Rob Straebel, via email to rstraebel@stmichaelsmd.gov or by phone at 410-745-9535.

The Town of St. Michaels may reject any and all bids, waive any informality or irregularity in bids received, and accept or reject any items of any bid.

By
Authority of
The Commissioners of St. Michaels

2025 Comprehensive Plan Meeting Schedule:

June 25, 2024: 5-7 pm
June 27, 2024: 3-5pm

Click here for a copy of the “Town of St. Michaels Comprehensive Plan Update: A Public Conversation” presentation on  June 25th & 27th. 

Please visit this site regularly for additional updates related to this project. 

On May 6, 2024, an election for three of the five Commissioner positions of the Town of St. Michaels, Talbot County, Maryland was held for the term expiring in June 2028. 

Voting statistics for this election:

• 817 registered voters
• 339 voted, this includes absentee ballots
• 41.5% of the registered voters voted in this election

Congratulations to the top vote winners. (Votes received are in parentheses.)

Top three vote winners who will serve a four-year term are:

Jay Hudson (199)
David Wojciechowski (184)
Alexis Roiter (181)

Thank you to the following candidates for running for the position of Commissioner and your interest in public service.

David Breimhurst (127)
Joyce Harrod (71)
Bonnie Morris (67)
Brian Wroten (85)

Swearing in will be June 12th.

Kristen Payne, Town Clerk
By Authority of The Commissioners of St. Michaels

The Town of St. Michaels has made substantial investments into our antiquated water department infrastructure and billing system. We are pleased to announce as part of these upgrades, we have integrated an electronic bill payment option for all Town water customers. Water customers will now have multiple options for paying their bills; i.e. electronic, check, cash, or money order payments. 

If you are interested in utilizing the electronic payment option please use the link and instructions below. 
Link to the portal to pay your water bill:
https://wipp.edmundsassoc.com/Wipp/?wippid=STMT

The utility account ID and utility account pin is located on the return stub of your water bill (it will be right above your address).

You can choose to register as a new user or simply put your information in the utility account information box and follow the steps.

You will receive an email confirmation once payment is received.

View the fee schedule applied by the vendor when utilizing a credit card, debit card, or echeck/ACH.

At this time autopay is not an option.

To receive your water bill electronically:
If you prefer to receive your water bills electronically, we ask you contact our office at the number below and provide us your email information. After registering, you should receive your next water bill electronically.

If you have any questions, please contact Vickie Sharp, in our Water Department, at 410-745-9535. 

To get up-to-date information on Town events and bulletins, join our Constant Contact email list. To join, click the attached link below and provide your contact information. We look forward to sharing this valuable information with you.

Click HERE

After completing the above process, please send an email to info@stmichaelsmd.gov identifying if you are a resident of St. Michaels, business owner or restaurant owner in town or outside of town and we will finalize the process to include you in the most appropriate emails. 

SPREAD THE WORD TO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!

The Commissioners of St. Michaels (COSM) public legislative sessions will be on hiatus during the months of June through August 2024 and resuming September 25, 2024. During these months, the Commissioners will hold a joint working and legislative meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. in the Christ Church Parish House, Etherton Hall, on 103 Willow Street, or on Zoom. 

The Commissioners of St. Michaels (COSM) usually meet the second Wednesday of the month for a public working session and on the fourth Wednesday of the month for a public legislative session beginning at 5 p.m. which can be joined in-person in the Christ Church Parish House, Etherton Hall, on 103 Willow Street, or on Zoom. 

PUBLIC COMMENT: In accordance with the COSM meeting rules and procedures, public comments will be received one person at a time at the beginning and end of each meeting. The “Comments from the Public” portion of the Commission agenda shall have a limited time period as determined by the Commissioners. To be recognized, a member of the public should raise his or her hand (with the “raise your hand” feature or in chat in Zoom) and wait to be recognized by the President. Comments and questions should be kept brief and to the point, and be directed to the President. Citizens are encouraged to contact the Commissioners or Town Administrator in advance with meeting questions and comments.

COSM Legislative Session AGENDA
September 25, 2024, COSM Legislative Session Public Draft Agenda – FORTHCOMING
September 25, 2024, COSM Legislative Session Public Draft Meeting Packet – FORTHCOMING

Please note: All agendas are DRAFT DOCUMENTS until the day of the meeting.

Join meeting by computer or smart phone by clicking link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3264261778
Meeting ID: 326 426 1778

Join by phone with audio only:
+1 301 715 8592
Meeting ID: 326 426 1778

Other meetings will be added as necessary such as public meetings and hearings, working sessions, special working sessions, special legislative sessions and closed sessions — as set by the Commission on an as needed basis.

COSM Meeting Rules of Procedure

If you have any questions, please contact the Town Office at 410-745-9535 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Commissioners of St. Michaels (COSM) meet the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. in Etherton Hall at Christ Church Parish House, on 103 Willow Street, enter via the side entrance to Etherton Hall. Additional sessions are scheduled as needed.

Working Sessions: The Commission may conduct public working (study) sessions on matters which are expected to come before the Commission for formal action at a legislative meeting or that otherwise need study by the Commission. These working sessions will be scheduled on an as needed basis by the commissioners.

Legislative Sessions: The Commission will conduct public legislative sessions on the second Wednesday of each month, to handle matters which come before the Commission for formal vote. Time permitting, other items may be included on the legislative agenda, but items requiring votes of the Commission will take priority.

COSM meeting schedule for Calendar year 2024.
AGENDA topics to be discussed at future meetings.

The following is a list of minutes for past Commission meetings occurring in St. Michaels. VIDEO and AUDIO recordings are posted in a day or so after the meeting (Effective 10/22/19.) Official minutes are added when approved by the Commissioners. (Note: Meeting minutes for other Boards and Commissions can be found under Government menu/Boards and Commissions.)

If you have any questions, please contact the Town Office at 410-745-9535 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

6-26-24 Video – COSM Special Meeting with Closed Caption; 6-26-24 Audio; 
6-12-24 Video – COSM Legislative Session with Closed Caption; 6-12-24 Audio; 
5-22-24 Video – COSM Legislative Session with Closed Caption; 5-22-24 Audio; 
5-8-24 Video – COSM Working Session with Closed Caption; 5-8-24 Audio; Approved Minutes 5-8-24
4-24-24 Video – COSM Legislative and Closed Session; 4-24-24 Audio; Approved Minutes 4-24-24
4-10-24 Video – COSM Budget Workshop; 4-10-24 Audio; Approved Minutes 4-10-24
4-3-24 Video – COSM Budget Workshop; 4-3-24 Audio;
3-27-24 Video – COSM Working Session; 3-27-24 Audio;
3-18-24 Video – COSM Budget Workshop with Closed Session; 3-18-24 Audio;
3-13-24 Video – COSM Working Session; 3-13-24 Audio; Approved Minutes 3-13-24
3-5-24 Video – COSM Budget Workshop; 3-5-24 Audio;
2-28-24 Video – COSM Legislative Session; 2-28-24 Audio; Approved Minutes 2-28-24
2-14-24 Video – COSM Working Session; 2-14-24 Audio; Approved Minutes 2-14-24
2-9-24 Video – COSM Working Session; 2-9-24 Audio
1-24-24 Video – COSM Legislative Session; 1-24-24 Audio; Approved Minutes 1-24-24
1-10-24 Video – COSM Working Session; 1-10-24 Audio; Approved Minutes 1-10-24
12-13-23 Video – COSM Working and Legislative Session; 12-13-23 Audio; Approved Minutes 12-13-23
12-5-23 Video – COSM Working and Legislative Session; 12-5-23 Audio;
11-8-23 Video – COSM Legislative Session; 11-8-23 Audio; Approved Minutes 11-8-23

The Town of St. Michaels has enrolled to participate in the Mosquito Control Program for Season 2023, in so doing the community agrees to allow access by Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) personnel to conduct mosquito control activities. The goal of the pest management program is to develop effective strategies to protect our health, our pet’s and livestock health, the environment, and improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors. Please reference their website, at Mosquito Control (maryland.gov), for more information about this program or you may call 410-841-5870. We ask that you review the attached mosquito control – general policies provided by the MDA.

Individual property owners who object to the nuisance mosquito control program may complete the attached form to have their property excluded from spraying. It is required to complete a new form yearly for each property, in order to be excluded, and returned to the appropriate entities. You may download a copy of the Mosquito Control Exemption Form here.

The Town of St. Michaels was awarded a $35,000 DNR Grant for a Feasibility and Design Study to construct a 1.25-mile extension of the St. Michaels Nature Trail/Multi-Use Bikeway. The vision for this project was initiated by the St. Michaels Rotary Club, who helped build the original Nature Trail, which was completed in 2010.

Project partners include the Commissioners of St. Michaels, the St. Michaels Planning Commission, Rauch Inc., Environmental Concern, and the Rotary Club of St. Michaels. The proposed multipurpose ADA compliant bikeway/pedestrian trail will connect the southeast side of Town (near the high school) to the northwest side of Town, terminating at Perry Cabin Park. The trail will provide a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists to bypass the downtown area, thereby avoiding the busy traffic on the main thoroughfare. It will also provide a safe alternative means to get to/from school events and the ballpark.

As illustrated on the attached map, the trail extension will connect with Bradley Park on Railroad Avenue and continue northward to Perry Cabin Park. Disruptions to private property are anticipated to be minimal as the trail will be located on State Highway Administration easements.  Preliminary investigations including soil studies, wetland studies, and engineering studies will guide the design and engineering. 

Once the Feasibility and Design Study are completed the Town and partnering agencies will seek funding from various grants to construct the trail extension. We look forward to highlighting the Town’s natural beauty and serenity through this Nature Trail extension. As this project moves forward, please continue to visit this site on the Town’s website for project updates. Please click on the attached link for additional information regarding this Program. 

Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program    

Meetings and Updates:

July 8, 2023: Public Input Meeting 

The Town of St. Michaels and our consultants, RAUCH Engineering, held a public input meeting at
Bradley Park pavilion in St. Michaels on Saturday July 8^th, 2023, to provide the opportunity for the community to review a draft alignment drawing of the proposed trail extension plan and various design issues and options.

The project will extend the existing 1.3-mile nature trail by another 1.25 miles for a total of 2.55 miles. The plan is to extend it northward from Bradley Park in St. Michaels and terminate at Perry Cabin Park ballfields on the north end of town.  A feasibility alignment study and preliminary engineering work is currently underway. Additional final design and construction funding is yet to be determined.

We appreciate everyone who attended and/or provided feedback regarding the proposed design options. The consensus of the group was to include all three trail options at the top of the map. We will proceed accordingly. 

July 19, 2023: Public Update

The Nature Trail extension project is a multi-year project. At this time, we are working on preliminary feasibility drawings. We just submitted a grant application from the State to complete construction drawings which will take another year. After that, we will search for various funding sources for the actual construction. We estimate it will be 2 ½ to 3 years before it is actually completely built.  

September 14, 2023: Public Update

On September 14^th the Maryland Department of Transportation awarded the Town of St. Michaels $48,360.80 to complete final construction drawings for the 1.25 mile nature trail extension project. The trail will extend from Bradley Park to Perry Cabin Ballfield Park and include a shorter loop there, as well as an extension to the north that could be continued in the future as a county project (refer to the diagram at the top of this page). The work on the final construction drawings should begin in the New Year 2024. By next summer, we hope to begin fund raising for construction of the trail, which is estimated to require about 1 million dollars.

The Town of St. Michaels experienced a fire at the Marengo Street water pump station on December 3, 2023, deeming it currently inoperable. In order to keep our citizens abreast of the situation throughout this process, the Town will be issuing updates regarding the status of this facility and water capacities. Please click on the link below for updates and associated progress moving forward. 

March 20, 2024 Public Notification
February 12, 2024 Public Notification
December 14, 2023 Public Notification

The Town of St. Michaels extends our gratitude to our water customers for their patience during this repair process.

If you have further questions/concerns please do not hesitate to contact Rob Straebel, Town Administrator, at  410-745-9535.