Calvert County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting – September 9, 2025
Calvert County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting – September 9, 2025
The Board of County Commissioners met on September 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. for a full-day regular meeting covering new business, proclamations, appointments, consent items, old business, presentations, and work sessions. The meeting included updates on the 2025 property tax bill process, strategic plans from CalvertHealth, and community feedback on three town center master plans. No public comments were offered.
Consent Calendar
- Approved five routine items en bloc: (1) Department of Planning & Zoning: 2025 High Tide Flood Mitigation Plan Update; (2) Department of Public Safety: Grant application for APCO Communications Training Officer Training; (3) Department of Public Safety: Grant application for APCO Illuminations Training; (4) Department of Community Resources: Memorandum of Agreement with Older Adults Technology Services, Inc.; (5) Department of Public Safety: Maryland DNR Waterway Grant for Solomons Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke or were present for public comment.
Discussion Items
- Real Property Tax Bill Process (New Business): County Administrator Linda Turner and Treasurer Delena reported that 41,000 property tax bills were mailed the week of August 25, 2025, with online availability on August 13. Delays were caused by a system upgrade that generated error codes, unmet vendor service-level agreements, printing/mailing integration issues, and an erroneous insert. The county will target a July 31, 2026 mailing date and will rebid the printing/mailing contract. The board approved consolidating the entire tax billing process under the Treasurer’s office (motion carried unanimously).
- Proclamations: (1) September 2025 declared National Preparedness Month; (2) Constitution Week (September 17–23) recognized with appreciation to the John Hansen chapter of the DAR.
- Appointment: Reappointed Laura Kent, Ashley Wilkerson, and Wes Lepree and appointed Izumi Kawakami, Emily Shreves, Nicole Harrington, Sherry Moran, Amy Idol, Nola Formy-DeVall, Aaron Ward, James Lee, Kelly Holtzberger, and Lisa Krebs to the Employee Recognition Committee.
- Old Business – POACRE Open Space Lots: The board affirmed a 2021 authorization to release irrevocable covenants on four lots for Chesapeake Water Company water infrastructure. The release covers three of four lots; other restrictions remain.
- Presentations:
- One Maryland One Book: Calvert Library Director Carrie Wilson presented "Kin: Rooted in Hope" by Carol Boston Weatherford, the 2025 selection. Related events include a Longest Table gathering on September 16, a genealogy program on September 23, and an antique appraisal road show on September 27.
- CalvertHealth Strategic Plan Update: CEO Jeremy Bradford, VP Kasha Sweeney, and SVP Larissa Gogonzer reported on achievements, including: CMS five-star rating (top 10% nationally, only hospital in Southern Maryland to achieve it), Forbes top 100 hospitals, Great Place to Work certification, and clinical milestones. Strategic initiatives include 56% completion of 367 initiatives, recruitment of six new primary care providers, expansion of outpatient services, new women's center, robotics, and Duke partnership for cancer clinical trials. Challenges include rising costs, state/federal policy changes, and workforce shortages.
- Work Session – Town Center Survey Results: Planning Director Jason Brinkley and Planner Tay Harris presented results from public surveys for Huntingtown, Owings, and St. Leonard town centers. Key findings: strong desire to preserve rural character; opposition to growth like Prince Frederick; concerns about traffic, infrastructure, and septic failures. In Huntingtown, 61% favored conversion to rural commercial zoning; in St. Leonard, 61% favored retaining town center designation. The board discussed creating a minor/major town center distinction to address varying community needs. Future town hall meetings are scheduled: Huntingtown on October 14, Owings on October 20.
- Work Session – Consolidated Transportation Program Tour: Transportation Planner Jessica Catano briefed the board on the upcoming September 30 visit by MDOT’s acting secretary for the CTP tour. She requested commissioners advocate for stalled projects: crosswalks at Sherry Lane (Prince Frederick) and Dunkirk, Purple Heart signage, and expansion of the Calvert-St. Mary’s Metropolitan Planning Organization. Commissioners noted additional priorities: sidewalk on Dares Beach Road, Route 4 extension, timing of traffic lights, and 231 improvements.
Key Outcomes
- Votes: Approved consolidation of tax billing under Treasurer (unanimous). Approved Employee Recognition Committee appointments (unanimous). Approved consent agenda (unanimous). Approved affirmation of POACRE covenant release (unanimous). Approved motion to enter executive session (unanimous).
- Directives: County staff to prepare for July 31, 2026 tax billing deadline; rebid printing/mailing vendor. Planning staff to proceed with town center public meetings and explore minor/major zoning options. Transportation planner to compile commissioner requests for MDOT visit.
- Next Steps: Town hall meetings for Huntingtown (Oct 14), Owings (Oct 20); MDOT CTP tour Sept 30; executive session held after public meeting.
Note: The agenda included an executive session and a 3:00 p.m. groundbreaking for the Armory Pavilion; no public session content was available for those items.
Meeting Transcript
Time I'd like to ask Pastor Hancock if he would come forward and give us an indication, please. Earlier the summer, my 83-year-old friend looked out his window and saw his 86-year-old neighbor cutting bushes down. He went down to get us all to help remove the stumps. While doing so, Mr. George had a fatal heart attack and lost his life there on its neighbor's yard. I'm so thankful to live in a county where neighbors still help neighbors, even if it costs life itself. Let's pray. Father God, we thank you today for the gift of life and the joy of this day. Father, we're thankful to live in a wonderful county with amazing people, willing to serve one another, to help one another. And even today, Lord, it's just a reminder of people helping people serving others. And so, Lord, today we ask that you bless our county commissioners. Lord, thank you for their service and their sacrifice. We ask that you give them wisdom. Lord, do we pray for our schools and our students and our teachers? Lord, we ask that you would bless and protect our first responders. And Lord, I pray today that we would look for opportunities to serve others so that they might be fulfilled and loved and know that they are valuable and important. We give you thanks for this day in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. I liked to the United States of America. Thank you. Our nation. Thank you, Pastor Hancock. We appreciate you coming in and joining us today. Thank you, sir. Next item on the agenda is approve the agenda and any corrections or additions to the agenda as presented. I don't believe so. I'll move that we approve and adopt the agenda submitted. Second. I have a motion of a second to approve the agenda. Is there any discussion on that motion? Hearing none. All those in favor say aye. Aye opposed. The motion carries. I do have some public service announcements today. Do you want to start off with yesterday? We had some misinformation that got out about our 85 Main Street project. So we just want to clear up any confusion and share the facts about 85 Main Street Project in Prince Frederick, which will provide a homeless day program and emergency shelter. Calvert County first received an $800,000 community development block grant in 2023. Of that, just over two 625,000 were used to purchase the property at 85 Main Street by community resources. Then applied for then we applied for additional funding. In 2024, the Maryland Department of Housing Community Development awarded us another 574,318. Combined, that brings the total grant funding to the project just over 1.37 million dollars. All of the remaining funds are dedicated to design and construction. We're working with Zavos Architecture, a firm new to working with the county on project design. Once we finalize that design, we will build out the construction work and then hold a public hearing to share the construction schedule with the community. Calvert County government is fully compliant with federal grant rules. Our work is monitored by the state, and all spending is reviewed to ensure accountability and the proper use of funds. Thank you.
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