Calvert County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting - April 29, 2025
Calvert County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting - April 29, 2025
The Board of County Commissioners met on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to approximately 4:30 p.m. The meeting included an invocation, approvals, appointments, consent items, public hearings, proclamations, new and old business, work sessions, and commissioner reports. Key actions included swearing in a new sheriff’s deputy, approving a $159,071 grant for 9-1-1 software, adopting a resolution updating the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Council, and receiving guidance on personnel policy amendments. A balanced $385 million FY2026 budget was presented.
Consent Calendar
- Approved 11 consent items including: Local Government Insurance Trust sponsorship for the Board of Library Trustees and Tri-County Council; Maryland Historic Trust African American Heritage Preservation Grant; budget amendment for contracted accounting services with Clifton Larson Allen; deed donation of Skipjack Road to the State Highway Administration; Consolidated Transportation Program priority letter; two Maryland 9-1-1 Board grant applications (FY2026 yearly maintenance and Pilot Guides); budget amendment to replace a 2018 Ford F550; Environmental Commission Annual Report for 2024; Recreational Trails Program Application 2025; and the 2025 Pump-out Operations and Maintenance Grant Program.
Public Hearings
- Approval of Grant Award for Dynatrace Software Subscription – Maryland 9-1-1 Board: The Board conducted a public hearing and then approved Resolution and Budget Amendment BA2025-000337 accepting a $159,071.43 grant with no local match. (No public speakers.)
- Amendments to Term Limits (Chapter 11): The Board held a public hearing and closed the record; no decision was made as a required waiting period applies. (No public speakers.)
Proclamations
- National Travel & Tourism Week (May 4–10, 2025): Recognized tourism’s contribution: $77 million in labor income, 1,591 jobs, and $141 million in visitor spending annually. Representatives from local attractions and businesses attended.
- Child Abuse Prevention Month: Celebrated the work of the Calvert County Child Advocacy Center. In 2024, the Department of Social Services investigated 315 allegations of child abuse and neglect (77 physical abuse, 44 sexual abuse, 194 neglect). Since July 2024, nine human trafficking cases have been handled, including three interviews conducted by the FBI in February 2025. An average of 63 children per year use the CAC.
- National Healthcare Decisions Day: Promoted completion of advance directives through the “505 Wishes in 2025” initiative. Calvert Health and partners stressed the importance of documenting healthcare wishes.
Discussion Items
- New Business –Local Behavioral Health Advisory Council Resolution Update: The Board adopted a resolution repealing and re-enacting Resolution 42-22 to add a veteran mental health representative and extend chair/vice-chair terms from one to two years. No fiscal impact.
- Old Business – Chapter 86 Personnel Amendments (Pay Plan and Adjustments): HR presented proposed changes including: COLA language, step increase timing, promotion rate (6% plus possible additional step at supervisor discretion), expanded shift differential eligibility (FLSA non-exempt, 6 p.m.–6 a.m.), field training officer pay increase to $2/hour (adding paramedics, EMTs, communications officers), new critical incident response pay for exempt employees ($137,000 estimated), two overtime options (weekly overtime with leave not counting toward overtime calculation—a key point of debate), comp time cap at 100 hours with annual payout, standby pay ($22.50/day), and holiday premium pay for actual holidays only (eliminating observed holiday pay). The Board provided guidance to proceed with most proposals as presented, including the overtime structure that excludes leave from overtime calculations, but emphasized supervisor discretion for emergency holdover situations. These will be drafted for a public hearing.
- Work Session – Rezoning Request (Map Amendment #25-01): Staff presented a request to rezone 136 and 150 East Chesapeake Beach Road from Rural Commercial and Rural Neighborhood District to Town Center Core District to allow expansion of an existing gas station/convenience store within the Owings Town Center. No vote was taken; the item is for information and will proceed to public hearing. Commissioners discussed precedent and timing relative to the upcoming Owings Town Center Master Plan update (scheduled to begin July 2025).
- Work Session – FY2026 Budget Overview: County staff presented a balanced $385 million proposed budget for FY2026, down from the staff-recommended $403 million. Balancing actions included $17.8 million in operating cuts, $6.8 million reduction in PAYGO, and $6.5 million in state/local pension increases. The budget includes a 2.5% COLA and step increases for employees. Property tax ($229M) and income tax ($121M) are the largest revenue sources; public safety and Board of Education ($163M maintenance of effort) are major expenditures. The budget will be available in libraries and online; a public hearing is set for May 6, 2025, with adoption on June 10, 2025.
Key Outcomes
- Votes: Approved agenda amendments; reappointed/appointed members to advisory councils; adopted consent items; approved the 9-1-1 software grant resolution; adopted the LBHAC resolution update. All motions passed unanimously.
- Directives: HR directed to bring Chapter 86 amendments to public hearing per the Board’s guidance.
- Next Steps: FY2026 budget public hearing on May 6; budget adoption June 10; Owings rezoning public hearing to be scheduled; Chapter 86 amendments to return for public hearing.
Meeting Transcript
Holy, holy, holy. Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. Father, we just come thanking you for this day. We thank you for your grace, your mercy, and your love. The Board of Commissioners, and each one is present here, oh God. And Lord, you know the decisions that need to be discussed today, the decisions that need to be made. Father, I pray that you would give wisdom and discernment, oh God, on our leaders, oh God, of this county, oh God. I pray that you would continue, oh God, to be glorified here in this county, oh God. I pray for each one here, oh God, that each one would know and sense your love, oh God. So Lord, have your way, oh God, with this meeting with our leaders with this government here in this county, and Lord, that we would live, oh God, in a way that would bring glory and honor to you. We bless you, and we thank you for this time. It's in the name of your son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I pray. Amen. Amen. Our pleasure to the United States of America. I know. Thank you for inviting me this morning. And anyone is uh looking forward to one of the pastors wild church and growing non-denominational and all of what we just share the love of Jesus Christ, didn't that? Thank you. Thank you, Pastor. So the next item one of the agendas is approved the agenda. Are there any corrections or additions to the agenda as presented? Um Mr. President, I move that we approve and adopt the agenda moving new business item two to the work sessions and adding a work session on the fiscal year 2026 budget. Second. That motion is second to the amended to amend the agenda as presented. Is there any discussion on that motion? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye. I do have a couple public service announcements today. Uh tomorrow, Wednesday. Uh the Department of Economic Development is going to host a business planning workshop from 6 30 to 7 30 at the Calvert Library here in Prince Frederick. Uh that's for anybody who has any interest in starting a business. It's gonna give you some steps on how what you need to do to get that business up and running, how to do market research, financing options. Uh so if you have any interest, like I said, it's from 6 30 to 7 30 tomorrow night at the Calvert Library. You can also attend via Zoom. Uh and also we have a Ulster Shell Recycling in Coward County. Some of you may not be aware there is a shortage of oyster shells, which I'm old, seems very strange because I remember on Brooms Island mountains of oyster shells. And now for the individuals growing oysters, it's hard to find shell, and you have to have shell for spat spat set. So we do have one of the largest oyster recycling programs in the state. And if you're interested and you have some oyster shells, you can drop them off at Breezy Point Marina and appeal landfill. I never thought we'd be back in front of Worcester Shells. Uh next, just want to remind everybody the farmers market season starts. Uh and there's going to be a market in Prince Roddick and North Beach this year, and they are now open. The one in Print Riddick is on Tuesdays at Calvert Health Medical Center in the back parking lot from 2.30 to 5.30. And the one in North Beach is on Saturday. And it's at the North Beach Senior Center in the parking lot. It's from 8 to 11.30. And next month on May 22nd, there will be another mo market opening on Thursdays in Dunkirk at the entrance to the Dunkirk District Park from 2.30 to 5.30. You can go to these markets and find lots of local produce. Help support our local farmers and uh producers.
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