Calvert County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting - March 18, 2025
Calvert County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting - March 18, 2025
The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners held a regular meeting on March 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting included an invocation, approval of the agenda, a proclamation for National Agriculture Appreciation Day, new business on tax differential rates for the towns of Chesapeake Beach and North Beach, appointments to advisory committees, a consent agenda, a presentation on vaping awareness among youth, a work session on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for FY2026–FY2031, public comment, and commissioner reports. The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session for personnel, real property acquisition, and legal advice.
Consent Calendar
- Department of Parks & Recreation: Calvert County Youth Opportunities Recreation Fund 2025 Application – approved without objection.
- Department of Community Resources: Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation Grant Application – approved without objection.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A member of the public spoke about stormwater management, advocating for better design standards (e.g., capturing more realistic rainfall data and keeping water near the source), requiring developer bonds or warranties for maintenance, and expressed concern about proposed state cuts to Program Open Space and Rural Legacy funding. The speaker urged the board to act quickly to prevent under-designed systems.
Discussion Items
- National Agriculture Appreciation Day Proclamation – Multiple representatives from farms, agricultural organizations, and FFA spoke in support of local agriculture. Commissioners emphasized the importance of farming, preservation, and supporting the next generation. The proclamation was read and adopted.
- Tax Differential Rates for Chesapeake Beach and North Beach – Mayors Benton (North Beach) and Wall (Chesapeake Beach) thanked commissioners for maintaining the differential, noting the challenges of running small towns with new councils and staff transitions. Commissioner Mark Cox stated the differential prevents double taxation. The board voted unanimously to maintain the existing rate of 0.336 per $100 assessed value for FY2026.
- Appointments – Ricardo Pierre was appointed to the Student Safety and Well-Being Advisory Committee (no vacancies remain). Kama Friedman was appointed to the Calvert County Blueprint Committee (one citizen vacancy remains). Both appointments were approved unanimously.
- Vaping Awareness Presentation – Dr. Fatineza Mora and Jane Dodds (Calvert County Health Department) presented data showing higher youth vaping rates in Calvert County compared to Maryland state averages. They explained health risks (nicotine addiction, lung injury, cancer-causing chemicals) and the difficulty of quitting. Commissioners discussed regulatory gaps, enforcement of age 21 sales, flavors attracting youth, and school-based education. The health department offers free cessation programs, including for minors. Commissioners expressed support for stronger education and enforcement.
- Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) FY2026–FY2031 Work Session – Danielle Russell presented a 16.8% reduction ($15.1 million) from the staff-recommended capital budget, focusing on grant-funded projects and critical infrastructure. Discussion centered on prioritizing needs vs. wants, multi-year commitments, and the impact of rising costs. Commissioners requested a prioritization list from departments and deferred further direction until the next meeting. The board expects more clarity in mid-April due to pending state budget decisions.
Key Outcomes
- Agenda approved with an amendment to add executive session for legal advice.
- Tax differential maintained at 0.336 per $100 assessed value for FY2026 (unanimous vote).
- Appointments approved unanimously for Ricardo Pierre and Kama Friedman.
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- CIP discussion continued; staff to provide prioritized lists and justifications; further action scheduled for the next meeting in two weeks.
- Executive session approved for personnel, real property acquisition, and legal advice.
- Commissioner reports highlighted community events (Mount Harmony Elementary Monument Maker event, Eagle Scout recognition, farm-to-table breakfast) and noted that the FY2026 budget public hearing received no public comments.
Meeting Transcript
So good morning, everyone. I want to welcome you to the March 18th, 2025 meeting of the Tower County Board of Commissioners. Apparently, our clergyman hasn't arrived yet, so I think Commissioner Cox is going to fill in for us today. Alrighty. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with gratitude for the opportunity to serve our community. Guide us with wisdom, patience, and integrity as we work together to make decisions that benefit all residents of Calvert County. May our discussions be thoughtful, our actions just, and our hearts open to the needs of those we represent. Grant us the strength to lead with humility, the clarity to seek what is right, and the courage to uphold and trust place in us. Bless our county, our citizens, and all who dedicate themselves to its well-being. In your name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you, Reverend Cox, for that for them this morning. Reverend Cox comes to us from the Church of Ducks Unlimited. We don't need to bring in clergy anymore. Hey, we're good. We're pressed too. Mayor Wall said that. We have some rowdy individuals in the audience today. Get them out of here. So the next item on the agenda is to approve the agenda. Is there any additions or corrections to the agenda as presented? I think there are. So I move that we approve and adopt the agenda's amended and republished with the additional amendment that we add a closed session item for legal advice. Second. I have a motion of second to adopt the amended agenda. Is there any discussion on that motion? Hearing none. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. And I have a couple of public service announcements today. We do have a new web page that's up that honors African American Civil War soldiers. The webpage is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and sharing the history of African American soldiers from Coward County who served in the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. The site offers a lookup tool to search for soldiers by name, company, and rank achieved. It also links to a map with locations of cemeteries where, if known, the soldiers are buried. And this new page reinforces the legacy and lasting influence of African Americans on Calvert County's culture and society. I think we need to thank our own Chris Sperling and the Department of Planning and Zoning helped grasp and develop the website and IT for getting it out. So uh I hear it's had a lot of activity since it was released. So uh I want to thank everybody involved. I also want to announce that this coming Saturday at the fairgrounds down on 231, there's gonna be a farm to table breakfast. And the sponsor is the Calvert Historical Society. Uh this it starts at 7, runs till 10:30. Uh attendees can look forward to a delicious breakfast featuring locally sourced meats and produce planned activities for children and a display of historic photos offering a glimpse into Calvert's farming heritage. We don't know who's cooking. Oh, you'll have great cooks for that.
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