Calvert County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting – April 14, 2026

The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners held its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The meeting included a public hearing on a buffer amendment for the Marley Run Recreation Area, approval of a pumpout grant, a consent agenda, an update on the North Beach tax differential rate, a work session on capital planning, public comments, and commissioner reports. The meeting adjourned into executive session at approximately 12:15 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• The Board unanimously approved all four items on the consent agenda:
  1. Maryland 9-1-1 Board Funding Request for FY27 Annual Maintenance (Department of Public Safety).
  2. State Health Insurance Assistance Program Grant Application (Department of Community Resources).
  3. Right of Recovery Notice for the Calvert Pines Renovation Project (Department of Community Resources).
  4. Calvert Pines Senior Center Grant Reimbursement Request Letter (Department of Community Resources).

Public Hearing: Marley Run Recreation Area Buffer Amendment

• The Board held a public hearing on a resolution to amend condition nine of Resolution 3-92, which originally established a 100-foot no-cut, no-clear buffer along Cox Road. The amendment would remove the 100-foot buffer while maintaining a 35-foot setback from Cox Road to allow for parking lot expansion, regrading, stormwater improvements, and ADA upgrades.
• No members of the public spoke in person or online during the hearing. The Board voted to leave the record open for 10 days pursuant to Local Government Article §9-105.

New Business: 2026 Pumpout Operations and Maintenance Grant

• The Board approved a motion to submit a grant application to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for up to $5,000 in reimbursement for marina pumpout station expenses during the 2026 boating season (April 15 – November 15, 2026). The county operates one free pumpout station.

Old Business: Town of North Beach Tax Differential Rate

• The Board approved an adjusted property tax differential rate of 0.362 cents per $100 of assessed value for the Town of North Beach for FY2027. This rate, consistent with the prior model, reflects cost savings to the county for services provided by the town. The fiscal impact is an annual reduction in county revenues of approximately $88,000. Mayor of North Beach thanked the Board for supporting residents to avoid double taxation.

Work Session: Capital Planning Considerations

• Staff presented analysis on extending bond amortization from 15 to 20 years: it would provide $2.5 million in annual relief over the first 15 years but add $26.2 million in additional interest over the life of the bonds.
• Discussion included Moody’s 35% fund balance threshold, OPEB funding, and the impact on the county’s AAA bond rating. Commissioners directed staff to arrange a presentation from financial advisors Davenport to explore flexibility in rating criteria.
• Staff proposed moving the commissioner-recommended budget public hearing from May 5 to May 12, 2026, to allow time to prepare the budget book.
• A major capital projects discussion covered funding for turf fields at high schools ($10 million in FY28 per BOE), Cove Point Lighthouse additional $27,000, Armory Pavilion ($2.8 million), sheriff’s office crime lab conceptual design, and additional fire apparatus ($3.4 million) from capital contingency funds.
• Debate centered on phasing of new fire stations for Company 7 (St. Leonard) and Company 3 (Solomons). Staff recommended keeping Company 7’s design in FY27 and moving construction to FY28-29, with Company 3’s design in FY27 and construction in FY29-30. Commissioner Hart objected to further delays, citing deteriorating conditions. Director Cosgrove noted staffing constraints with only four capital project staff. Commissioner Hance moved to place Company 3 construction in FY29 instead of FY30, which was seconded and passed. Staff will explore hiring a capital project coordinator.

Public Comments

• Several residents spoke on data center development near Lusby and Cove Point:
  • Patrick Flarity (Calvert County District 1) criticized the county’s lack of proactive noise monitoring and opposed data center zoning changes, calling for a full reset with transparent hearings and independent studies.
  • Dottie Stuckler (candidate for Commissioner at Large) presented a map showing 20 private residences and a county park near proposed data centers and asked commissioners to support a 12-month moratorium.
  • Carl O. (Camp Kanoy resident) accused Constellation of using comprehensive rezoning to avoid notifying neighbors directly, alleging unethical and unneighborly conduct.
  • Megan Farringer (Lusby resident) expressed frustration over cumulative development impacts and requested presentations on NDAs as previously promised.
  • Terry Taylor (Huntingtown resident) questioned perking season policies and requested clarity on testing and alternative technologies.

Commissioner Reports & Motions

• Commissioner Hart moved to place on the next meeting’s agenda a discussion of a one-year moratorium on data center development and an investigation into whether the zoning change followed proper public notice. The motion failed 2-3 (Commissioners Hance, Ireland, Cox opposed).
• Commissioner Hance moved to adopt a policy requiring all data center developers to sign an agreement addressing noise, buffers, and other concerns before receiving building permits. Following legal advice that such a policy would require a public hearing and ordinance change, the motion was withdrawn for further process review.
• Commissioner Cox announced all county legislative bills passed except the excise tax for caregivers.
• Commissioner Grasso reported attending a daycare directors meeting, the health department open house, and the Knights of Columbus Blood Drive (which achieved a record 10,000 units of blood since July 2000).
• Commissioner Ireland noted the Solomons Fire Department parade on April 26 and a church dinner.
• Commissioner Hance provided an update on capital project phasing for the sheriff’s office and Harriet E. Brown Community Center, noting the difficulty of finding temporary space for the community center.

Key Outcomes

• Marley Run buffer amendment: Public hearing record left open for 10 days; no decision yet.
• Pumpout grant: Application approved.
• North Beach tax differential: Approved at 0.362 cents per $100.
• Capital planning: Budget hearing moved to May 12; staff to arrange Davenport presentation on bond rating flexibility; Company 3 fire station construction moved to FY29.
• Data center moratorium: Motion failed.
• Data center agreement policy: Motion withdrawn; further process to be discussed.
• Executive session: Board recessed into closed session at 12:15 p.m. under multiple provisions of §3-305 of the Maryland General Provisions Article.

The meeting scheduled to adjourn at 2:30 p.m. but the public portion concluded at approximately 12:15 p.m. with the move to executive session.