Calvert County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting – June 9, 2026
The Calvert County Board of Commissioners met on June 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. to address consent items, adopt the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, authorize participation in the On-Behalf-of-Bonds program, receive a presentation on the Fire Rescue EMS Master Plan, and hear public comments. The meeting also included commissioner reports and a motion to place a public hearing on a two-year moratorium for an independent environmental impact statement (EIS) on the next agenda. A separate meeting at 3:00 p.m. with the Acting Maryland Department of Human Services Secretary was scheduled but not covered in the transcript.
Consent Calendar
- Approved three items unanimously:
- Department of Parks & Recreation: Calvert County Youth Opportunities Fund Application for Ward Farm Recreation and Nature Park.
- Department of Human Resources: CareFirst Health Insurance Renewal for Plan Year July 2026 – June 2027.
- Department of Finance & Budget: Highway User Revenues Certification of Use Fiscal Year 2027.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Patrick Flaherty (individual, candidate): Listed dates of executive sessions related to data centers, implying the board knew of data center plans earlier than stated.
- Sheila Green (individual): Expressed strong opposition to data centers, stating they would destroy quality of life and that commissioners value profit over humanity.
- Carmen Portella (individual): Urged independent environmental and health studies before approving data centers; raised concerns about cumulative impacts on wetlands, forests, and the Chesapeake Bay.
- Barbara Warner (individual): Praised the budget presentation and thanked commissioners for including a 2.7% COLA and step for employees.
- Patty Stuckler (individual, candidate): Noted that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 26 endorsed three Republican commissioners (Hance, Ireland, Cox) and questioned the unusual cross-party endorsement.
- Nancy Elwine (individual): Alleged that 800 acres of Constellation property was illegally rezoned to heavy industrial I-2 through the comprehensive plan without proper notice to adjoining property owners.
- Carl Owen (individual): Detailed inconsistencies in the AWS concept plan, noting that part of the property is in Tier Four (not planned for sewer), and called for a pause on all I-2 permitting due to inadequate environmental review and improper rezoning.
- Jeff Dixon (individual): Asked about noise and vibration from diesel generators and urged a pause or ban on data centers.
- Online caller – Calvert Citizens for Student Safety and Responsible Development (designated representative): Criticized the board for fast-tracking industrial projects while ignoring the Environmental Commission; called a text amendment a "smokescreen" and demanded a genuine moratorium as used by Baltimore County; accused the board of prioritizing developers over public trust.
- Joe Young (individual): Expressed lost faith due to lack of transparency; urged a pause and a data-driven decision.
- Andrew Burman (individual): Raised evacuation concerns for South County crossing the Governor Johnson Bridge near a nuclear plant and LNG facility; requested a study and a pause.
- Online caller (last four 4164) (individual): Disputed claims about noise from Virginia data centers and questioned the 70% Republican opposition figure; noted the Southern Maryland Association of Realtors did not endorse Patty Stuckler.
Discussion Items
- Old Business – Adoption of FY2027 Budget: CFO Malena Brookshire presented a balanced budget with a general fund of $420.5 million, including $169.7 million for education (40%), a 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment and one salary step for employees, 10 new positions (8 in public safety), and no water/sewer rate increase. Commissioners praised the budget. Motion to close the record and adopt the budget carried unanimously.
- New Business – 2026 On-Behalf-of-Bonds Program: Jennifer Moreland explained the county's housing bond allocation ($4.48 million) and non-housing allocation ($1.54 million) and the annual invitation to transfer to the state for the Maryland Mortgage Program. Authorized the board president to sign the letter and attachment; carried unanimously.
- Presentation – Fire Rescue EMS Master Plan: Crystal Dowd and Frank Edwards of Mission Critical Immersive Training presented the project framework, data collection methods (surveys, focus groups, site visits), and timeline (draft report October, final December). Commissioners discussed rising apparatus costs, volunteer challenges, and the need for strategic station placement. The presentation was informational; no vote required.
- Commissioner Reports:
- Commissioner Grasso attended community events; asked staff to monitor activity from electric utility (Natali) and ensure transparency; requested enforcement of the "rule of five" for communications.
- Commissioner Hance stated he has not spoken with utility representatives; defended the board's approach to data centers, noting a passed resolution prohibiting fast-tracking and placing an unlimited pause on building permits until all studies are complete; cited a legal opinion confirming the comprehensive rezoning followed requirements.
- Commissioner Hart presented that a moratorium petition grew from 5,411 signatures (June 2) to 7,347 (June 8); expressed constituent pressure; made a motion to schedule a public hearing on a two-year moratorium for an independent EIS. After discussion with the county attorney about proper procedure, the board voted 5-0 to place the item on the next regular meeting agenda for a vote to authorize advertising of a public hearing.
- Commissioner Cox offered prayers for a grieving family and congratulated graduates and event organizers.
- Commissioner Hart also requested answers from staff regarding questions from a constituent about water availability and surplus property related to data centers.
Key Outcomes
- FY2027 Operating and Capital Budgets adopted unanimously (5-0).
- Authorized transfer of bond allocation to Maryland Department of Commerce (5-0).
- Scheduled a vote on advertising a public hearing for a two-year moratorium on data centers pending an EIS at the next regular meeting (June 16, 2026) – motion carried 5-0.
- Fire Rescue EMS Master Plan accepted as presented; staff and consultant to continue work with a draft report due in October 2026.
- Meeting recessed at approximately 12:20 p.m. , with a separate meeting at 3:00 p.m. with Acting MD DHS Secretary (not covered in transcript).
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Welcome to the June 9th, 2026 meeting of the Calvert County Board of Commissioners. I'd like to start out with our invocation, Pastor Brenda Stephanie with Perfecting Strength from Within Church in Huntingtown. Pastor. Good morning, everyone. It's a beautiful day. It's a good day for making great decisions. Let's bow heads. Father, first of all, we want to thank you for another day. Thank you for the safe travel of arriving here for this meeting. As always, we invoke your presence in this meeting on today. Let your divine order, your humility, your respect and your love and your guidance, your wisdom and your knowledge, bring forth the things that are beneficial to this county, oh God. Tear down pride, oh God. Let respect rise. Give us the ability on today to respect one another and hear and discern what is right and what is wrong. Lead, oh God, these wonderful commissioners who have been assigned in their rightful place at this present time. Let your will be done. As always, because your way is perfect and your way is right. But more than anything, God, open our eyes and our hearts and our mind to see what is really necessary for this county. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. God bless you. I pledge allegiance to the time. And to which one under God with liberty. Pastor, thank you for taking the time to come out. Do you have any announcements? Or can you tell us where your church is located when your services are? That's okay. Come up to the mic if you would, so people can hear you. Sorry. Um Perfectionist Within is located in Huntingtown, Maryland, right on Hunting Creek Road. It was formerly Young's United Methodist Church. And we're just a uh community church that started in 2021. And we just all about community, providing transportation to those in need, the elderly, those that need food and of that nature. And um, our service is on Sunday at 11 o'clock. So you can join in on Facebook if you'd like. But you know, we're just about the love of this county and and God's people. All right. Well, thank you. Thank you for taking your time to be here this morning. We appreciate it very much. Thank you, and thank you. Takes us to the approval of the agenda. Are there any amendments to the agenda? Hearing none, is there a motion? Mr. President, I move that we approve and adopt the agenda as submitted. Second. So motion and second to prove it and adopt the agenda submitted. Is there any discussion on that?
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