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During the meeting on Aug. 7, community member Cheryl Lewis went before the council and requested approval for two items.

The first was permission to submit an application request on Aug. 21 to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Community Parks and Playgrounds Program to obtain funds for a girls softball field.

The second was to make a motion to approve, contingent on the state, a change in the joint agreement between Talbot County and Trappe required for the grant fund application. The change would name the county as the local government responsible for the park maintenance.

According to Lewis, Maryland has pre-prepared a joint agreement for seeking park funds stating the local town government is responsible for maintaining the park’s “attractive appearance.�

Lewis requested the town council pass a motion changing the joint agreement to clarify that Talbot County will be responsible for the park, not Trappe.

Commissioner Walter Chase, a member of the county park advisory board, said Lewis should attend a park advisory board meeting for further approval.

“I’m on the park board, so I’m gonna have to get a field from the park board before I sign anything right here because I don’t get myself in trouble,� Chase said.

Lewis said she had met with the county’s parks advisory board during their last meeting and they had approved the concept of the softball field.

“(The park advisory board) did approve the concept of the softball field,� Lewis said. “The joint agreement part they don’t have authority to do. That’s between (Trappe) and the Talbot County Council, and I’m talking to the... County Council at their meeting next week.�

Lewis urged the council to pass the two motions, stating that applications are only accepted within the month of August and once the month passes they will not be able to apply until next year.

During the vote, Commissioner Rosalee Potter and Chase did not approve the motion to approve the application, and it failed to pass.

Chase said he would like to bring it back up with the parks board for approval. Potter said, “this is not anything personal. I am just accustomed to doing things more in order.�

In order to stay within the August deadline, the Trappe Council will hold a special meeting the morning of Aug. 19 with the purpose of reviewing the grant funding application requests to be submitted. The public is welcomed to appear.