CAMBRIDGE — Councilmen Don Satterfield and William Nichols were absent from the Feb. 2 County Council meeting. County Council started out the Groundhog’s Day meeting with a proclamation declaring February National Outdoor Show month. Hard to believe the event is 71 years old this year, but it’s true!

A Public Hearing on the FY16 Community Development Block Grant for the Delmarva Community Services Chesapeake Grove phase 1 construction followed, with funds shifted around between grant monies, with the good news being that no additional funds were necessary from the county coffers.

Next was a Legislative Session, which briefly approved the suspending of the Excise Tax for another two years. This move provides that the building excise tax is waived on new building permits filed between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2018. The legislation is intended to encourage new construction in the county.

A request to waive fees for ambulance services for the Cambridge Power Boat Regatta was approved, as it was last year. It was also noted that the Powerboat Regatta has a date change this year, happening on Memorial Day weekend, May 29-30, instead of July. Also related to the event, the Rotary Club of Cambridge applied as was approved for a Flags for Heroes display to be set up in the Sailwinds Amphitheater prior to and during the Regatta, designed to dress up the riverfront and possibly draw more attention to the event. Sponsors will be able to “purchase” flags in the display for $50 each — contact the Rotary for more information.

Delegate Chris Adams joined the meeting to discuss 2016 Maryland General Assembly legislative bills, and to update Council on the Sprinkler Bill that Delegate Adams has proposed. The bad news is that the sprinkler bill is still in force, so far, but the good news is that there has been a statewide push-back against the bill — not just in Dorchester County — and the pressure will force a closer look at the sprinkler bill by legislators, hopefully ending with the possibility for an opt-out by the individual home builder. More news on this front is promised as the situation develops.

In the Manager’s Comments portion of the meeting the opening discussion was an update on the recent snowstorm clean-up. County Manager Jeremy Goldman stated that considering the intensity and quantity of the snow, county resources did very well. The clean-up cost 1,400 man-hours and approximately $52,000. Councilman Price commented on roads in his district that were not cleaned out immediately, and Mr. Goldman pointed out that in some areas the initial focus was on blazing a basic emergency path into neighborhoods to allow EMT or fire apparatus in if necessary, and then at a later time county trucks came back and finished the job.

A property maintenance agreement contract renewal request for Planning and Zoning was next approved, as was a Change Order Request for the Community Development Block Grant Generator Project, which will incur no additional county funding. Also approved was a Request to Advertise for Proposals for Community Development Block Grant Group Home Renovation.

The Eastern Shore Innovation Center sent in a request to change the date for the ESIC Incubator grand opening, which will now be Feb. 29 at 11 a.m., to better accommodate state legislator’s schedules. It was noted that the incubator was finished and would be ready for clients and staff to start moving in this week.

Public Works presented a Request to Advertise for Proposals for Towing Services, which was approved, and offered a Traffic Safety Committee recommendation for a change in speed limit for Buttons Neck Road. The item was tabled until Councilman Satterfield returned from vacation.

Proposed changes to a Traffic Safety Committee Resolution were approved, as was a board appointment recommendation submitted by Recreation and Parks. A reimbursement request for the West Vienna Water and Sewer by the Town of Vienna was approved, as were the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board Nominations from the previous meeting. Two telephone poll confirmations were confirmed, and there being no more business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned. The next County Council meeting will be on Feb. 16 at Room 110 of the County Office Building.