Board of Carroll County Commissioners Open Session, March 26, 2026

The Board of Carroll County Commissioners held its Thursday afternoon open session on March 26, 2026, in Room 311 of the Carroll County Office Building. The session opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and silent reflection, followed by commissioner announcements, a proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a grant discussion, the weekly legislative update, two votes on grants and an annexation comment letter, public comment, and agenda review.

Opening Announcements and Proclamation

• Commissioners praised the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office following the Sheriff’s Office Training Academy graduation and awards ceremony, and offered other community recognitions, including a new full-tuition Carroll County Scholarship recipient at McDaniel College, Carroll County’s two Medal of Honor recipients, and the 101st birthday of World War II veteran Sterling Carr.
• The Board adopted a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The proclamation cited 66 rapes recorded in Carroll County between 2023 and 2026, and 611 survivors served by the Care Healing Center during the same period. It called on residents to speak out against violence and promote respect, safety, and accountability.
• Stephanie Powers, Executive Director of the Care Healing Center, and Tracy Yingling, who leads the forensic care team at Carroll Hospital, accepted the proclamation. They reported that so far in 2026 the Care Healing Center has supported over 200 survivors, answered 218 helpline calls, made 30 hospital accompaniments, provided 129 crisis sessions, and provided 660 counseling sessions. They also introduced Jessica Dell and forensic nurse Carla DeBartolomeo of the Carroll Hospital Forensic Care Center, formerly the SAFE program, which has served the community since 1999.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Catherine Adelaide, a Carroll County resident and member of the Carroll County Republican Central Committee, thanked the Board for the Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamation and for providing public connection to resources. She promoted the Republican primary set for June 23, 2026, early voting beginning June 11, and urged independents to switch to the Republican Party to vote in the primary. She also encouraged residents to serve as Republican poll watchers and judges and to visit CCGOP.net.
• In her “pro-life report,” Adelaide said Maryland Right to Life’s Maryland March for Life, canceled due to weather, had been rescheduled to April 6, 2026. She said she had testified on pro-life bills and that House Bill 1131, an infanticide bill, died in committee; however, a companion infanticide bill is still moving, and Maryland Right to Life plans to testify against it.

Discussion Items

FY27 Maryland Heritage Areas Program Grant – Farm Museum Enhanced Visitor Experience Plan

• Jane Sewel, Manager of the Carroll County Farm Museum, presented in place of Denise Beaver. The proposal sought approval to apply for and accept a FY27 Maryland Heritage Areas Program (MHAA) Project Grant for an Enhanced Visitor Experience Plan. The grant request was $25,000-plus, with matching funds from Farm Museum staff time and, if approved, the Patron’s Fund.
• Sewel said the museum wanted professional help with signage, exhibits, interpretation, visitor engagement, and return visits. She noted the grant application deadline had been extended to Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and that the Farm Museum Advisory Board, which controls Patron’s Fund spending, was scheduled to consider the match on April 8, 2026. She confirmed the application could be withdrawn if the match was not approved.
• Several commissioners objected to the timeline, the “$25K-plus” amount, and the lack of previous consultation with the Board and the Farm Museum Advisory Board. They expressed concern that the plan could lead to much larger future capital costs and that the advisory board should originate or fully support the request rather than be presented with a near-completed application.
• Commissioner Kiler moved to authorize the FY27 MHAA grant application and acceptance of the award pending approval of the match by the Farm Museum Advisory Board. The motion was seconded, but after further discussion it failed by a 3–1 vote.

Legislative Update

• Legislative Liaison Pam Meister reported that the General Assembly is post-crossover; bills that did not crossover are no longer moving this session. She said the state budget and the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) passed the Maryland House and are moving to a conference committee.
• Alive or advancing items she highlighted included the county’s public facilities bond bill; the unpaid property tax bill, which passed both chambers; Senate Bill 449 on workers’ compensation heart disease/hypertension presumption and permanent partial disability for Carroll County correctional deputies; a public safety bill prohibiting law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings; Senate Bill 848 on municipal elections reporting; Senate Bill 255, the Voting Rights Act of 2026; Senate Bill 108 on water resources and wetlands enforcement; the Building Affordability in My Backyard (BABI) bill; Mason’s Law; the DECADE Act; a 311 systems bill; a Delegate Boyce deer-related bill; a distillery bill; and the “Zebra bill,” which also covers kangaroos, wallaroos, and wallabies.
• Meister said the Silver and Starter Homes Act and district planning legislation are not moving forward. She noted that the employment discrimination bill related to medical cannabis use by fire/rescue public safety employees has crossed over and is opposed by fire professionals, fire chiefs, and MACo.
• The commissioners and Meister discussed plans for the interim period, including developing a prioritized legislative agenda, meeting committee leaders outside session, and improving use of the “Engagify” engagement tool.

Carroll County Farm Museum Stormwater Pond Design Grant

• Christopher Heyn, Director of the Department of Planning and Land Management, requested approval to submit an application to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants program for $150,000 to fund design of a stormwater pond redesign at the Carroll County Farm Museum. The pond is between South Center Street and Gist Road in Westminster, drains 155 acres including 39 acres of impervious surfaces, and is intended to reduce nutrient and thermal loading and help meet NPDES permit requirements.
• The estimated design cost is $300,000, with the county contributing $150,000 if the grant is awarded. The Board approved the application by voice vote.
• In follow-up discussion, staff noted that Carroll County’s practice of taking ownership of stormwater practices from HOAs has saved money and avoided maintenance problems, and discussed upcoming MDE stormwater regulation changes, cybersecurity, and PFOS-related water regulatory issues.

Comment Letter for City of Westminster Annexation No. 72 – Patamy, LLC

• Carlisle Fillat of the Department of Planning and Land Management presented a recommendation on Westminster Annexation No. 72 for approximately 2.9443 acres at 10 Sullivan Road. The site is the under-construction Sheets convenience store; 1.446 acres of Maryland 140 right-of-way is included to create contiguous corporate limits.
• The annexation would provide roughly 1,332 gallons per day of additional water for the store and fuel station. The property is in the county’s C-2 Commercial Medium Intensity district; Westminster intends to place it in the B Business district, and because uses are not substantially different, no zoning waiver is required.
• The Planning and Zoning Commission concurred with staff findings and recommended support. The Mayor and Common Council public hearing is scheduled for April 20, 2026. The Board approved, signed, and forwarded the comment letter.

Key Outcomes

• The Board proclaimed April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Carroll County.
• The FY27 Maryland Heritage Areas Program grant motion for the Carroll County Farm Museum Enhanced Visitor Experience Plan was defeated by a 3–1 vote.
• The Board approved submission and acceptance of the $150,000 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant application for the Farm Museum stormwater pond design.
• The Board approved, signed, and forwarded the comment letter to the City of Westminster supporting Annexation No. 72 – Patamy, LLC.
• During administrative open session, Commissioner Kiler raised the county’s CTP letter; staff responded that the Route 27/30 intersection and Taneytown Bypass remain included in the letter as additional priorities.
• The Board reviewed the upcoming agenda for the weeks of March 30 and April 6, 2026, including closed budget work sessions and the April 3 Good Friday county holiday.