Carroll County Board of Commissioners Open Session – December 18, 2025
Carroll County Board of Commissioners Open Session – December 18, 2025
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners held an open session on December 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 311 of the County Office Building. The meeting began with recognitions of retiring employees and proceeded through a full agenda including routine approvals, a major discussion on zoning code review, and a series of temporary development deferrals in the Freedom Designated Growth Area. After extensive debate, the board voted on four deferral ordinances, approved a public hearing for water and sewer plan amendments (with one exception), and took action on several procurement and contract items.
Consent Calendar
- Grant – Approval to Submit Application and Acceptance of Award – FY26 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program (Sheriff’s Office): Approved unanimously to submit the application and accept the $9,800 federal grant with a $9,800 county match for replacing vests for detention center staff.
- Approval to Purchase – Replacement Weapons for the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office: Approved unanimously the purchase of 50 rifles and accessories from Witmer Public Safety Group for $84,867.50, funded entirely by asset forfeiture money.
- Approval of Additional Cost – Upfitting of Lenco Bearcat APC: Approved unanimously the additional $64,834 for a color/thermal camera and AgileMesh/LTE modem integration on the tactical armored vehicle.
- Approval to Purchase – Upfitting of Seven (7) 2025 Ford Explorers for the Sheriff’s Office: Approved unanimously $172,801.48 for upfitting.
- Approval to Purchase – Upfitting of Seven (7) Ford F-150 Pickup Trucks for the Sheriff’s Office: Approved unanimously $238,447.45 for upfitting.
- Approval to Purchase – Upfitting of Three (3) Unmarked Ford Explorers for the Sheriff’s Office: Approved unanimously $74,731.63 for upfitting.
- Contract Renewal – Cisco Smartnet Support: Approved unanimously renewal with ePlus Technology Inc. for $95,921.19.
- Contract Renewal – Center for Internet Security (CIS) Endpoint Security Services: Approved unanimously renewal with Center for Internet Security, Inc. for $96,000.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Diana Bergman (Freedom District resident): Expressed concerns about unplanned development in the Freedom area, including data centers, storage facilities, and safety issues. She urged the board to consider smart growth and the impact on emergency services. Later in the meeting, she also noted a broken water fountain in the building and raised traffic safety concerns on Mineral Hill Road/Pine Knob Road, suggesting a temporary citizens’ committee for the Freedom District.
Discussion Items
- Budget Transfer – Zoning Code Review and Revision / Contract Award – Zoning Code Review and Revision: The Department of Planning & Land Management sought approval to transfer $41,500 from Reserve for Contingencies and award a contract to Wilson T. Ballard Company for consultant services to review and recommend zoning code amendments, focusing on four uses in the Freedom Area (cluster subdivisions, retirement villages/homes, self-storage, planned commercial centers). The original RFP included three tasks (assessment, recommendations, and continued support through June 2026). Because both bids exceeded $50,000 for all three tasks, the scope was reduced to two tasks to stay under the procurement limit. Commissioners debated the scope and the qualifications of the proposed consultant’s staff, with concerns about a recent termination. Ultimately, the board voted 4–1 to direct staff to issue a full public RFP for all three tasks, thus the budget transfer and contract award were not approved at this meeting.
- Temporary Deferral of Cluster Subdivisions in the Freedom Area: Discussion centered on whether to pause cluster subdivisions while code amendments are developed. The board considered four options: no action, full deferral, deferral of approval only (allowing continued processing), or deferral with exemption for projects submitted before December 1, 2025.
- Temporary Deferral of Retirement Villages and Retirement Homes in the Freedom Area: Similar options were debated, with emphasis on safety concerns (road widths, parking, fire access) and the need for design standards for senior housing.
- Temporary Deferral of Self-Service Storage Facilities in the Freedom Area: Public testimony and commissioner comments highlighted the controversy over a proposed storage facility in Carroll Highlands and the lack of height and setback requirements. A prior town hall had strong community opposition.
- Temporary Deferral of Planned Commercial Centers in the Freedom Area: The board noted no projects are currently in the queue, but the code lacks a definition of mixed-use and design guidelines.
- Briefing/Request for Public Hearing – Fall 2025 Water and Sewer Master Plan Amendments: Staff presented amendments for Freedom, Taneytown, Mount Airy, and unincorporated areas (including Shamrock Farm Training Facility). Commissioner Krebs raised concerns about the Shamrock Farm amendment due to uncertainty about the project’s details and potential impacts on capacity and land use.
Key Outcomes
- Zoning Code Review RFP: Motion passed 4–1 to direct staff to issue a public RFP for all three tasks (assessment, recommendations, and continued support). No budget transfer or contract award occurred; the matter will return after the RFP process.
- Deferral – Cluster Subdivisions: Passed 3–2 (Option 4) – Defer the processing, review, and approval of cluster subdivisions in the Freedom Designated Growth Area, but exempt any project submitted to the Development Review Division before December 1, 2025. These projects may continue under current rules.
- Deferral – Retirement Villages and Retirement Homes: Passed 4–1 (Option 3) – Defer the approval of retirement villages and retirement homes in the Freedom Area, but allow continued technical review and processing at the developer’s risk. Final approval will be subject to any code changes adopted during the deferral period.
- Deferral – Self-Service Storage Facilities: Passed 3–2 (Option 3) – Same as above: defer approval but allow processing; final approval contingent on future code amendments.
- Deferral – Planned Commercial Centers: Passed 3–2 (Option 2) – Defer processing, review, and approval of planned commercial centers (including mixed-use) in the Freedom Area for eight months, with no exemption.
- Water and Sewer Master Plan Public Hearing: Motion passed unanimously to proceed with a public hearing for the 2025 Fall Amendment, except the unincorporated area amendments (Shamrock Farm Training Facility). The Shamrock Farm matter was removed from the hearing pending further information. Staff was directed to use Carroll Connect and other tools for public notification.
- Public Record Closed: The board voted to close the public record for the December 16 public hearing on the deferrals.
Administrative & Miscellaneous
- Retirements and recognitions were honored: Wendy S. Armstrong (20 years, wastewater treatment), Timothy S. Petrie (28 years, fleet management), Karen Brown (Permit Technician of the Year), Brian Van Fossen (30 years, fire protection specialist), Sandra Baber (38 years, GIS manager), Timothy R. Hare (37 years, environmental inspection manager), and Harvey Lowe (25 years, water distribution).
- Technology Services noted Carroll County was recognized by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for the Connected Devices Program, distributing 5,000 Chromebooks (35% to seniors and individuals with disabilities).
- The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for January 15, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
As always, we will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. And to the Republic for which she stands, indivisible liberty and justice world. So given that we have quite a uh full agenda today and quite a number of people that we want to honor this morning. Uh the commissioners have all consented to foregoing priority carol, and they've asked me to make sure that I wish everybody a Merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, and a happy new year, and God bless. And so uh first of all, I'm going to read uh two very brief uh bios of two individuals uh who are going to be retiring who are not able to join us today. And then all my colleagues have proclamations or I'm sorry, certificates for those who are able to join us today. So first of all, for uh Wendy S. Armstrong, who has 20 years as superintendent of wastewater treatment. Uh she was instrumental in Hampstead wastewater treatment plant upgrade completion, and God bless, and the best to you. And then also Timothy S. Petrie, who has 28 years in fleet management, uh shop foreman for 21 years, and uh two-time winner of the regional dump truck rodeos with other counties. So we'll very uh we're very glad uh for that that distinction, and we're certainly going to uh miss having you both around. Uh and then so next we have Karen Brown. And who has Karen? I was it I think that's I believe it's Commissioner Fowler. Oh it's no commissioners. Good morning. Good morning. So we're here this morning to recognize uh one of the permits and inspection staff members. Um each year the Maryland Building Officials Association has their annual business meeting, and at that meeting they uh award excess excellent service awards for uh inspector of the year, uh plans reviewer of the year, and permit technician of the year. This year uh we're honored to uh mention it uh bring to you that Karen Brown uh received the uh permit technician of the year award. Um she's been here four and a half years, she's been a very valuable member of our team. Uh she she brings positive attitude and uh work ethic and collaborative spirit to everything she does. Um we're happy to have her and we're happy to uh let you know she was given this award. Congratulations on that. Thank you. Was it was it difficult to get to that point? Was it difficult to achieve? I had a lot to learn. Um I decided four and a half years ago to do a career change. So the staff in the permit and inspections office is all very helpful. Um they played a key part in me getting to this point. Awesome. I want to thank you too, because often our citizens do this like once in their life. They don't really know what to do. And it's helpful to have somebody help walk walk them through it, make sure they dotted their eyes and crosses across their T's. And I will say one of the reasons I believe she's got this award is because she's taken a lot of initiative to go out on her own and and get more customer service skills. Umor herself up for those skills. Um she brings a lot to the forward facing of the community to for a good experience when they come to our office. And that that's that's very meaningful because it is a difficult sometimes. You go to get a permit to put a set up or you go to put something up and you really don't know what you're doing, and having someone willing to do that, not having to hire someone to draw the line on the map for you to put your it's it's very appreciated to to help our citizens. So thank you. We're here to serve our citizens. Yes. Yeah. Yeah, thank you very much. Any anybody who steps into your office, I mean, just the amount of work going on there, the amount of plans that you're getting from the municipalities and in addition to just people that you know aren't living within the towns, you handle all that. It's a lot of work, so thank you very much. Oh, gentlemen, you want to do a picture? Absolutely.
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