Calvert County Board of County Commissioners Meeting - July 15, 2025
Calvert County Board of County Commissioners Meeting - July 15, 2025
The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the County Administration Building in Prince Frederick, Maryland. The meeting began at 10:00 a.m. with an invocation, pledge of allegiance, approval of the amended agenda, and public service announcements. Commissioner Earl F. Hance was absent on vacation. The board approved the consent agenda, received a presentation on a new 911 behavioral health crisis diversion initiative, conducted a public hearing on an ethics code update, heard public comments, received commissioner reports, and recessed to executive session.
Opening and Announcements
- Deacon Ron Burns of Jesus the Divine Word Church in Huntingtown delivered the invocation, offering congratulations to Linda Turner on her new role as County Administrator.
- The board acknowledged catastrophic flooding in Texas and offered condolences to affected families, as well as to the family of Derek Sabedra, a coach and lifelong Maryland enthusiast.
- The first meeting of the Calvert County Compensation Review Board was announced for Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 3 p.m.
- Animal shelter supervisor Brandy introduced Caesar, a 10-year-old husky, as the Pet of the Week. Adoption fees are waived through the next meeting.
- Staff recognized shelter and animal control officers for their response to an injured dog named Honey.
- Residents were reminded to use the Calvert Prepare app and to contact Meals on Wheels for emergency meal assistance.
Consent Calendar
The consent agenda contained eight routine items, which were approved unanimously without discussion:
- Southern Calvert Land Trust's request for tax credits for conservation lots
- Memorandum of Agreement with Ann's Circle, Inc.
- Waterman's Wharf slip agreements
- Certifications and assurances for annual grant application
- Maryland Association of Counties request for legislative initiatives
- State's Attorney's Office FY2026 Child Support Program agreements and leases
- Maryland Outdoor Equity Mini-Grant application for the Calvert County Parks & Recreation Youth Mentor Program
- Budget amendment for assistance of outside counsel (BA2026-000002)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public hearing on ethics code update (HB 834): Susan DeZurick of Huntingtown, speaking as a former member of Calvert Citizens United, expressed support for enacting HB 834 into the ethics code, hoping it would reduce unethical behavior by elected officials. No other speakers signed up; the board closed the record.
- General public comment: A resident of 101 Calvert Town Road raised concerns about speeding cars and four fire hydrants hit on his street in nine years. He provided a photo and asked for enforcement and engineering solutions. The board said it would refer the matter to the Sheriff's Office and Public Works.
- Online public comment: Joseph Cormere, speaking as an individual, urged that budget amendments, including the $144,000 for outside counsel, should be subject to public hearing rather than placed on the consent agenda. He also argued that a $500 reward for street sign vandalism is ineffective and called for better support for the Board of Education in the next budget.
Discussion Items
- 911 Behavioral Health Crisis Diversion Initiative: The Department of Public Safety, along with the Calvert County Health Department and Community Crisis Services, presented a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to integrate 988, 911, and the Mobile Crisis Team (MCT). Director Dave McDowell and Communications Chief Stanley Harris explained that the MOA would allow 911 to transfer low-acuity behavioral health calls to 988 or MCT, reducing unnecessary dispatch of law enforcement and first responders. Speakers included Andrea McDonald Fingland (Local Behavioral Health Authority), Adriana Fatso (Community Crisis Services), and Regina Turnbull (Calvert Crisis Response), all expressing strong support. The motion to approve and authorize board president to sign the MOA carried unanimously.
Public Hearing
- The board held a duly advertised public hearing on an ordinance to amend Chapter 41 (Ethics) of the Calvert County Code to implement House Bill 834 (Chapter 370, Laws of Maryland 2024). The bill requires the Ethics Commission to publicly disclose recommendations to expel a commissioner and authorizes the governing body to remove elected officials for conflict of interest violations. Staff liaison Emily Shrieves presented the proposal; fiscal impact was none. After receiving one public comment, the board moved to close the record; staff will return no sooner than 10 days for approval.
Commissioner Reports
- Commissioners shared updates on recent events: July 4th celebrations, a chamber legislative wrap-up, Jefferson Patterson Park meeting, upcoming Neon Knights 5K, swearing-in of three sheriff's deputies, retirements of county employees, and community announcements.
- Commissioner Ireland expressed support for the 911/MCT initiative and encouraged public awareness of crisis resources. He noted the mobile crisis number 877-467-5628.
- The board extended congratulations to Linda Turner as County Administrator and wished Commissioner Hance a happy birthday.
Executive Session
- The board voted to recess into executive session pursuant to §3-305(b)(1)(i), (b)(7), and (b)(15) to discuss personnel, legal advice, and cybersecurity matters. The meeting adjourned following the closed session.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning and thank you for joining us for the July 15th Board of County Commissioners meeting. I'd like to invite Deacon Ron Burns to come up and give our invitation, please. He's from Jesus Divine Word in Huntingtown. Good morning, and uh so nice to be welcomed this morning by the Board of County Commissioners. Uh, appreciate the warm welcome. Linda, I appreciate the invitation. So happy to do this for you, and congratulations on your new position. Let us begin in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Heavenly Father, we come before you this day, thankful for your many blessings, our freedoms, our democracy, our prosperity, and the many other things too easily taken for granted. Help us to always remember them as the true gifts that they are. And in this time of transition in Calvert County governance, today we are thankful in a very special way for Linda Turner and her many gifts, which she seeks to use for the betterment of her fellow citizens. We ask for your continued blessings upon Linda and her new role as Calvert County administrator. We ask that she and indeed all of our leaders be blessed with the virtues of justice, giving God the worship and obedience due to him while respecting the inherent dignity of all persons. Integrity, trustworthy and consistent in their actions, free of all corruption, impartial in their dealings, inspiring confidence among the general public, prudence, that ability to discern what is truly moral and upright, and then the ability to choose the proper means of achieving that good. And may they also possess the courage to live out these and other godly virtues, even in times when doing so may be unpopular. In short, may they have the heart of a servant leader, never wearying in serving others, always following the example of our preeminent servant leader, Jesus Christ. Again, we thank you, Lord, for your many blessings. Bless and protect Linda and all of our leaders as you continue to bless this great Calvert County. Lead us, guide us, grant us the grace to follow you. We ask all these things through Christ our Lord. Amen. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Thank you very much for which he stands. Thank you, Pastor, and thank you for those kind words about Linda Turner. We're very fortunate to have her here, and we look forward to working with her in the future and making the necessary changes for our county to be a better place. Thank you. All right. Next item on the agenda is to approve the agenda. I uh have a motion, Mr. Vice President. I move that we approve and adopt the agenda as amended and reposted by staff more than 24 hours prior to the meeting. Second. I have motion and second. All those in favor of approving the agenda say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. Moving on, public service announcements. Um, our thoughts and prayers go out to Texas. Those people have been through a lot. We'd like to acknowledge the catastrophic flooding in Texas and send our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in this tragic floods. Our hearts are very heavy and go out to those families and community that are during this immense grief. Our condolences also to Derek Sabedra and his family. I actually went to high school with Derek. Uh he was a coach in Calvert County, St.
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