July 8 Commissioner Meeting Update

News Release # 2025-077

Wednesday, July10, 2025

On Tuesday, July 8, Wes Adams, County Attorney, held a work session on establishing term limits for Charles County Commissioners. The work session covered term limits, the maximum allowable number of terms, the process for filling board vacancies, and other relevant topics. The County Attorney will take the recommendations from Commissioners and draft a bill that will be brought back for a public hearing in the fall.

Commissioners reached a consensus that the draft bill would state that no one elected to the Charles County Board of County Commissioners, or the President of the Charles County Board of County Commissioners, can serve more than two non-consecutive terms. Restrictions will take effect as of December 5, 2022. Commissioners appointed to fill vacancies will have a term counted against them if they serve more than two years of the previous Commissioner's term.

Briefings

• Clark Mercer, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), briefed Commissioners on the organization's activities. The Council of Governments is developing a region-wide transportation plan that focuses on both short-term and long-term transportation goals. Other programs include support for 28 public safety programs, environmental planning, and additional regional needs. Commissioners also gave consensus to send a letter to MWCOG's Transportation Planning Board voicing opposition to potential toll lanes on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
• Jeffrey Thomas, Chief of Animal Control and Care Division; Lt. Katy Rosche, Immanuel Ingram, Animal Control Officer; and Hannah Neel, Animal Control Officer, Department of Emergency Services held a briefing on animal control regulations and feral cat colonies. The briefing covered guidelines surrounding feral cat colonies and their caretakers, as well as the interaction between Animal Control and the colony caretakers.
• Jenifer Ellin, Acting Deputy County Administrator; Jacob Dyer, Director of Fiscal & Administrative Services; Dina Barclay, Director of Community Services, and Cathy Thompson, Deputy Director of Planning & Growth Management, held a briefing on the Affordable Housing PILOT Workgroup. The group developed a series of criteria for projects to qualify for affordable housing PILOTs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes). An Affordable Housing PILOT would support the development of affordable housing in Charles County through a competitive annual application process.
• Kelli Beavers, Director; Sam Drury, Deputy Director; Ben Yeckley, Planning Supervisor; Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism; and Aaron Smith of A. Morton, Thomas and Associates, Inc., held a briefing to update Commissioners on the findings from public engagement for the Sports and Wellness Complex. The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism held a series of community meetings between January and May, as well as an online and paper survey. A vast majority of responses to the project were positive. Additional meetings showcased concepts for the future facility's amenities and provided an open forum discussion on various elements of the facility.

Charles County Department Highlights

Charles County Commissioners heard updates on the activities of the County Attorney's Office, the Department of Community Services, and the Economic Development Department:

• The County Attorney's Office has processed over 135 PIA requests since Jan. 1, 2025. The office has also handled 810 assignments over the past year, including requests for opinions, contract reviews, and land acquisitions. The County Attorney's Office is also involved in various class-action lawsuits focused on opioids and chemical contaminants impacting the environment. Nearly $9 million has been recovered for the County through litigation efforts.
• The Department of Community Services is supporting the community through the Maryland Governor's Office for Children ENOUGH Grant Program, which provides funds to eligible communities to plan and advance strategies that reduce child poverty and increase economic mobility, and the Local Management Board Capacity Building Grant. The grant supports local communities through the Local Management Board's regional infrastructure.
• The Economic Development Department recently launched a new Sister City Partnership between the County and Matola, Mozambique-marking the County's third official Sister City Partnership. The goal of the partnership is to foster cultural exchange, educational collaboration, and economic development opportunities. The signing was followed by a week-long visit that included tours of Charles County Public Schools, the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, local farms, small businesses, and more.

Public Hearings

On July 8, Commissioners held a public hearing on Proposed Bill 2025-05: Industrial Development Authority. The bill would authorize the County to establish an Industrial Development Authority. Commissioners voted unanimously to keep the record open until July 18.

Boards and Commissions Annual Update

Commissioners heard updates on the activities of the following Charles County Boards and Commissions:

• Homeowners Association Dispute Review Board
• Nuisance Abatement Hearing Board

Approval Items

Commissioners approved:

• A budget amendment increase of $62,640 to carry over the remaining Fiscal Year 2025 funds allocated to the Commissioners' Summer Youth Employment Program into the Department of Community Services' Summer Youth Employment Program budget.
• A budget amendment increase of $5 million to facilitate a grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support construction of a visitor center at the Mallows Bay -Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary.
• A budget amendment increase of $80,260 to pay outstanding invoices in the Infrastructure Management Department Service Plan Review expense account.
• A budget transfer request of $241,430 to cover cost overruns in the County Administrator's Office's full-time salary account.
• Revisions to the County Commissioner Expense Policy that require additional information from non-profits receiving funding from the special projects account, as well as some minor grammatical changes.
• A grant application to the Maryland Department of Transportation seeking additional funds to cover construction cost increases related to the VanGO operations and maintenance facility.
• Collective Bargaining Agreements for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
• A resolution to relinquish a piece of land to Greenberg Gibbons as part of a realignment of Mattawoman Drive.

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