Calvert County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - February 24, 2026
Calvert County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - February 24, 2026
The Calvert County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on February 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM. The meeting opened with an invocation, approval of an amended agenda (removing Work Session Item #2 on Data Center conditions), and public service announcements. Key items included appointments to advisory boards, a consent agenda item for a court grant, an old business discussion on Rural Legacy expansion, a public hearing for a strategic fleet replacement budget amendment, and a work session on the FY2027 capital budget and CIP. Public comment included criticism of development, tax hikes, data centers, and campaign announcements. Commissioners reported on snow operations, community events, and condolences for a fatal accident.
Consent Calendar
- Approved Calvert County Circuit Court Fiscal Year 2027 Grant Application for Adult Treatment Court. (Unanimous)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joseph Cormier (individual): Criticized the fleet replacement budget amendment as a "slush fund" and lack of transparency; urged performing purchases through the regular budget cycle and a third-party performance evaluation.
- Kenneth Lee (individual): Opposed high-density development (citing recent projects and planned "low-income" housing near Calvert High School), tax hikes, and proposed data centers; announced candidacy for Commissioner District 2.
- Patrick Flarity (individual): Announced candidacy for Commissioner District 1 and pledged to serve a maximum of two terms (8 years); criticized Commissioner Hart for seeking a fourth term after earlier statements about term limits.
- Joe Cormier (individual): Urged dissolution of NDAs and blocking future NDAs; criticized lack of CCPS representative to review performance audit; opposed data centers and noncompliance permit practices; urged preservation of land near Lusby (between Constellation and Dominion facilities).
- John Lupo (online, individual): Expressed concern about data centers' environmental impact and infrasound effects on children; criticized NDA use.
Discussion Items
- Rural Legacy Expansion Outreach for 2026: Jennifer David (Rural Planner) presented plans for three public meetings (May, June, July) to gauge landowner interest in expanding the Calvert Creeks Rural Legacy Area (approx. 13,948 acres, 1,800 parcels). The expansion would require redesignating Tier 3 properties to Tier 4 (no major subdivisions) under state law. Commissioners discussed impacts on development potential, benefits for preservation, coordination with partners, and landowner voluntary participation. Staff requested board direction on data points for meetings. No formal motion needed.
- Strategic Fleet Replacement Budget Amendment (Public Hearing): Malena Brookshire (CFO) presented a $4.76 million budget amendment (BA2026-000713 and BA2026-000714) from prior year fund balance to replace 31 critically aging non-police/non-public safety vehicles, including snow removal dump trucks and a vacuum truck. Public works director Jared Cosgrove detailed vehicle failures (e.g., a dump truck went into limp mode during the snowstorm). The board voted to leave the record open for 10 days per Local Government Article 9-105. (Unanimous)
- FY2027 Staff-Recommended Capital Budget & FY2027–2032 Capital Improvement Plan (Work Session): Danielle Russell (Capital Improvement Projects and Grants Manager) presented the $86.2 million FY2027 capital budget and $569.4 million six-year program. Major drivers included education (Calvert Elementary/Calvert Country co-location, Northern Middle School), public safety (detention center medical unit, Sheriff District 2, fire/rescue apparatus), and infrastructure (stormwater, water/sewer). The program is structurally balanced, with general fund debt and grants as primary funding sources. The county operates under self-imposed debt limits (9.5% debt service to revenue, 1.8% debt to assessed value). Staff proposed reviewing the 1.8% cap with financial advisors. Commissioners praised the team and clarity. No motion; public hearing scheduled for March 24, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Appointments Approved (Unanimous):
- Heritage Committee: Jennifer Pitts appointed (1 vacancy remains).
- Gambling Permit Review Committee: Stuart Gibson, Raymond Mahar, Dustin Walker reappointed as regular members; Eric Thompson as first alternate; Cynthia Comproni as second alternate (no vacancies).
- Economic Development Advisory Commission: Lawrence Doroski reappointed (no vacancies).
- Consent Agenda Approved: Calvert County Circuit Court Adult Treatment Court grant application.
- Public Hearing Record Left Open: Fleet replacement budget amendment to remain open for 10 days; formal adoption to follow.
- Executive Session: Board recessed into closed session under General Provisions Article Section 3-305 for personnel, real property, business recruitment, and pending litigation discussions. Meeting adjourned at approximately 2:40 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning and welcome to the February 24th meeting of the Calvert County Board of Commissioners. We're going to start this morning with our invocation. Pastor Walter Bodwin with Trinity United Methodist Church. Pastor. Good morning. Morning. Gracious God, we thank you for the opportunity to pause in the midst of our busyness to direct our attention and praise to you. We pray your presence among us. We pray that on this board, you give your wisdom, your direction, that any legislation, any decisions be pleasing to you. We pray them a good and pleasant day. In Jesus' name. Amen. Which is one nation under God. Pastor, thank you for coming out today. Would you like to say a few words? So full disclosure, Pastor Walter is my Oak Huntington partner. Yes, fact. I didn't know how much time you want to take up. Come on up. You can speak. Share a couple of stories with the share. I can tell you about a certain elk that doubled itself a couple years ago, but this would not be the pleasant time. But I've seen a few of you at hunting for Jacob last week and other uh functions around the county, and you know, I appreciate the invitation and know that you all mean it when you invite people to be here to do exactly what I'm doing. I wish that I could spend more time, but I have to be honest, yeah. I'm here to represent God for the moment and take a call at 1015. So I'm gonna bid you all great day. Thank you so much, and God bless. Good to see you all. Thank you. Takes us to approval of the agenda. Mr. President, I move that we remove work session item number two, defer it to another BOCC meeting and approved and adopt the agenda as amended. Second. So I have a motion and a second that we approve work session. We remove work session number two and defer it to another BOCC meeting and approve and adopt the agenda's amended. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Thanks. Let's throw a public service announcements. We just got over another snowstorm. Uh the county roads guys, the contractors, everybody did a wonderful job uh clearing our roads. Of course, Mother Nature helped us quite a bit this time as well. Uh so it didn't cost us near as much as the snow creek did last time. Um however, I'll tell you folks, our our snow budget's taking a pretty significant hit. We're somewhere probably between two and a half and three million dollars already. I'm sorry.
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