Calvert County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting – January 13, 2026

The Board of County Commissioners met on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Prince Frederick, Maryland. The meeting included proclamations, a public hearing on the Prince Frederick Town Center Master Plan update, a public hearing on the Opioid Restitution Fund budget amendment, new business items, and presentations on the Police Accountability Board and the Calvert Safe Housing Network. The meeting concluded with public comment and commissioner reports before recessing to executive session at approximately 1:40 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Department of Economic Development: Maryland 250 Once in a Generation Grant Application – Approved.
• Department of Planning & Zoning: Historic Preservation Tax Credit 2025-07 (Patuxent Manor) – Approved.
• Department of Community Resources: Mutual Assistance Agreement for Disaster Response – Approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Hearing on Prince Frederick Master Plan (December 2, 2025 continuance): One member of the public, Joe Cormair, spoke about the Owings Town Center, expressing that the public’s comments were not being heard and that the proposed expansion into farmland and watersheds was unwanted. He urged the board to listen to public input.
• Public Hearing on Opioid Restitution Fund Budget Amendment: No public comments were offered in person or by phone.
• General Public Comment (1:30 PM):
  • Joe Cormair (self) criticized the county for redacting the name of a third party in an agreement, alleging lack of transparency. He also raised concerns about a proposed data center campus in Lusby, stating that plans show encroachment on historical sites (two tobacco barns and the Baltimore and Drum Point Railroad) and that the county should require data centers to generate their own power without new transmission lines.
  • Myra Gowins (Calvert Citizens Inc.) expressed frustration with the Board of County Commissioners, accusing them of backroom deals and failing to protect citizens in the First District. She referenced a recent appeals board meeting regarding a proposed apartment project in Lusby, alleging that the board did not ask questions and that a Memorandum of Understanding was never recorded in land records.

Discussion Items

• Public Hearing – Draft Chapters 1 & 2 of the Prince Frederick Town Center Master Plan Update (Continuation):
  • Jason Brinkley (Planning & Zoning Director) and Tay Harris (Long Range Planner) presented updates. The board had previously requested analysis of the employment center (EC) zone parcels to be included in the town center. Approximately 252 acres of EC land to the north (Calvert Health site) have no known development potential; 50–60 acres to the west are developable but constrained by steep slopes. The current EC zone allows only limited residential uses (max 4 du/acre). Staff proposed creating an “edge commercial” subdistrict to prohibit residential development while fulfilling the comprehensive plan’s goal of phasing out EC zones. Commissioner Hart expressed concerns about unknown future uses and traffic, preferring to leave the area unchanged. Commissioner Hance noted that Prince Frederick is already overburdened. Commissioner Grasso moved to restart the approval process by directing staff to modify the master plan to designate the EC area as edge commercial, send it back to the Planning Commission for public hearing, and then return to the BOCC. The motion passed unanimously.
• Public Hearing – Opioid Restitution Fund Budget Amendment (BA2026-000528):
  • Jennifer Moreland (Community Resources Director) presented. The county has received over $1.3 million in opioid restitution funds. Six applications totaling ~$309,000 were submitted; only $154,500 is requested for FY2026 to establish a spending category for program administration. The board held the hearing and voted to leave the record open for 10 days per Local Government Article 9-105. Adoption will be deferred until at least 10 days after the hearing.
• New Business – Approval of Multi-Year Contracts for Phone System Maintenance:
  • Stephen Pereira (Technology Services Director) and John Silcox presented. Three maintenance contracts for the county’s VoIP phone system are being renewed. Staff recommended a multi-year contract to lock in pricing and avoid 5–10% annual escalations. The board approved the motion to adopt the resolution authorizing the multi-year contracts with Avaya (the existing vendor) and authorizing the County Administrator to execute them.
• New Business – Priority Funding Area Certification Request in North Beach:
  • Tay Harris presented. A failing septic system at 3690 Third Street needs connection to public sewer. The Maryland Department of Planning advised that the area qualifies as a Priority Funding Area (PFA) because it is a growth area on the 2017 tier map and designated S1/W1 in the Water and Sewer Plan. The Planning Commission found consistency on December 17, 2025. The board certified the PFA request unanimously.
• Presentation – Calvert County Police Accountability Board 2025 Year-End Report:
  • Melanie Woodson (HR Director), Ed Baylor, and Susan Justice (PAB/ACC chairs) presented. The board has been operating for 3.5 years. In 2025, the Sheriff’s Office handled over 110,000 calls for service with only 32 complaints (0.03% complaint rate). The Administrative Charging Committee (ACC) reviewed 32 complaints; only a few resulted in policy violations (mostly body camera issues, now resolved). One case went to trial board. The board has conducted outreach, but no public attended library meetings. They aim to improve public awareness. The commissioners commended the board and Sheriff’s Office for their cooperation and low complaint rate.
• Presentation – Calvert Safe Housing Network:
  • Peg Haskellow (Executive Director) presented the nonprofit, founded in early 2025. Services include emergency hotel placements, affordable housing assistance, financial aid, and case management. Since May 2025, they have served 31 adult survivors and 21 children, responded to 112 crisis calls, provided nearly 1,500 safe nights, and helped 13 survivors obtain permanent housing. They are transitioning operation of Safe Harbor Shelter (25 beds) to Calvert Safe Housing. The proposed FY27 budget is $926,250, with a request of $277,500 from the county (same as prior year funding for Safe Harbor). The board expressed strong support and thanked the team.

Key Outcomes

• Prince Frederick Master Plan: The board voted to restart the approval process for the EC-to-TC conversion by directing staff to create an edge commercial subdistrict, return to the Planning Commission for public hearing, and then come back to the BOCC (estimated 4–6 months).
• Opioid Restitution Fund Budget Amendment: The record was opened for 10 days; adoption will occur after that period.
• Phone System Maintenance Contracts: Approved multi-year contracts with Avaya, authorizing the County Administrator to execute.
• North Beach PFA Certification: Approved unanimously.
• Commissioner Reports: Several commissioners reported attending Eagle Scout ceremonies, a Cub Scout meeting, the opening of a new indoor play park, and a corrections graduation. A “Night to Remember” event for special needs individuals was announced for February 28, 2026. The board also noted the start of the legislative session in Annapolis.
• Executive Session: The board recessed to executive session at approximately 1:40 PM to discuss personnel matters per General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(1)(i).