Charles County Commissioners Afternoon Session and 2026 Local Legislative Work Session, May 19, 2026

On May 19, 2026, the Charles County Commissioners held an afternoon session that included annual board and commission updates and a work session on 2026 local legislative proposals. Roll call showed Commissioners Bowling, Stewart, Patterson, and Collins present; Commissioner Coates was absent at the start and later joined online. No additional approval items were on the agenda, and the meeting recessed before a scheduled 5:30 p.m. public hearing.

Annual Updates from Boards and Commissions

• County Pension Plan and Sheriff's Office Retirement Plan (SORP): Human Resources Director Alexis Blackwell presented the annual update. The pension plan is intended to supplement Social Security and employee savings. In 2025, the pension plan committee maintained its investment return assumption, approved studies on the fiscal impact of a rule allowing retirement at age 56 or 57 with at least 31 years of service without reduced benefits, and studied allowing staff to purchase up to three years of public service credit. The SORP committee added two sworn members, implemented a new asset allocation strategy, and absorbed an actuarial cost increase for FY26.

• Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP): Jake Dyer, director of fiscal services, reported that LOSAP rewards volunteer fire, rescue, and dive unit members and is funded by 6.25% of the fire and rescue tax rate. The LOSAP board held three meetings in 2025, including an emergency meeting on September 17 to approve a custodian transition. It completed an updated actuarial study to meet GASB 73 requirements and worked on improving years-of-service tracking. FY26 contributions from the tax credit were $1.1 million, benefits paid were just over $1 million, and the investment balance was about $25 million as of June 30.

• Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB): The OPEB committee, including the acting county administrator, HR director, and a sheriff's office representative, met twice in 2025. It added a new sheriff's office member, added $750,000 to the plan from favorable general fund operating results, and completed an actuarial review by Bolton Partners. The county is contributing just over $11 million in FY26 and the same amount in the FY27 adopted budget; starting in FY28, contributions are planned to grow by 3% per year. Staff projected 2035 as the point when the trust will begin paying retiree health insurance costs rather than using pay-go funding.

• Historic Preservation Commission: Planner Cal Carpenter and Archaeologist Esther Doyle Reed presented. The commission held nine meetings in 2025, reviewed projects including Keswick, Ellsmere, Rich Hill, Westwood Town, and Piney Branch Estate, issued three letters of support, and completed delayed trainings. It supported archaeological work at the Swan Oyster House in Port Tobacco, a three-year survey at Maxwell Hall Park that identified about 13 new archaeological sites and benefited from more than 650 volunteer hours, and the Teagues Point field session. It also worked on the Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project, published Preservation Matters, and presented preservation awards. A commissioner praised the commission's work, saying it is helping the county better tell its story.

Work Session: 2026 Local Legislative Proposals

Danielle Mitchell, acting deputy county administrator, led the follow-up to the earlier public hearing on proposed local code changes. Staff was directed to research selected proposals and return with drafts or additional information.

• Proposal 1 – Remove Heritage Commission: Submitted by the clerk's office, this proposal would remove the Heritage Commission from county code and transfer its documents to the College of Southern Maryland for public access. Commissioner Stewart said he was fine with it. The board reached consensus to bring back legislation.

• Proposals 2 and 11 – Commissioner attendance requirements: Submitted by Mr. Mank, this proposal would require commissioners to attend a minimum number of meetings in person and would declare a commissioner to have forfeited their office for attendance below 70%. The county attorney advised that removal, not forfeiture, would be the appropriate process and noted that the inspector general legislation being considered that evening creates a removal framework. Commissioner Stewart questioned the legality. No consensus was reached; Commissioner Coates registered opposition, and no motion was made.

• Proposal 3 – Disclosure of commissioner investigations: Ms. Jones proposed requiring public disclosure of investigations that result in findings of wrongdoing, with some redactions, retroactive to 2018. One commissioner said it could be a tool cheaper than the $800,000 inspector general. The county attorney noted existing ethics disclosure requirements, public licensing actions, and possible ex post facto concerns. No clear direction to draft legislation emerged.

• Proposal 4 – Traffic calming: Mr. Terry proposed allowing HOAs to fund or share the cost of speed humps and speed bumps. Staff noted public works and emergency services concerns about maintenance, equipment wear, and response times. Jason Groth, planning director, said current criteria are too stringent, the applicant's community is approved only for the lowest level of traffic calming, and staff will bring revised program changes this summer. Commissioner Coates cited neighborhoods in Anne Arundel where calming devices had no complaints and helped prevent child deaths.

• Proposal 5 – Eliminate the Planning and Design Review Board (PDRB): Ms. Britt proposed elimination due to inconsistency and delays. Staff said elimination is not practical because it is a contractual relationship; process improvements are being developed and will be discussed in July.

• Proposal 6 – Vacant commercial property registration and maintenance: Ms. Britt proposed a registration process, annual renewal, a responsible local agent, and maintenance and security plans for vacant commercial properties. Commissioners asked about enforcement, liens, fees, and definitions of vacancy. Staff said nuisance cleanup and lien authority exists but recovery can be limited, and a registration program could require new fee authority and additional resources. Board directed staff to return with more information and cost estimates.

• Proposal 7 – Infrastructure warranty period for HOAs: Ms. Britt proposed requiring the same one-year warranty period for infrastructure transferred to HOAs that the county receives. The county attorney noted warranty language may be in state real property law, so state legislation may be needed. Staff was asked to review it and bring it back during the joint meeting with the county delegation.

• Proposal 21 – Reserve studies for new subdivisions: Staff generally supported the concept of improving initial HOA reserves through reserve studies, but noted it could increase project costs and be passed on to homeowners. No final direction was given, but staff will continue to evaluate it.

• Proposal 8 – Agriculture, agritourism, and outdoor recreation: Commissioners generally agreed with the priorities. Staff will outline existing county efforts during state legislative discussions.

• Proposal 9 – Monotonous streetscapes: Ms. Wilson proposed amending architectural diversity standards. Commissioners liked the idea. Planning staff noted current standards mainly address townhomes and could be expanded to other housing types.

• Proposals 10 and 12 – Mandatory DEI, ethics, and governance training: The board agreed to combine these proposals into one commissioner-training requirement. During discussion, commissioners raised the need for enforcement and penalty provisions.

• Proposal 13 – Independent ethics auditor: Ms. Wilson proposed creating an office or contract for independent auditing of financial disclosure and ethics filings. Discussion noted the ethics board can already hire third parties and that the future inspector general could cover fraud, waste, and abuse. No clear direction to draft legislation was given.

• Proposal 14 – Economic development-related proposal: A commissioner asked staff to share the proposal submitted by Ms. Watson with economic development staff, calling it a great idea. Staff agreed to do so.

• Data-center proposals (Nos. 15, 16, 17, 18, and 20): The remaining proposals addressed a moratorium on data centers, a ban on data centers, a permanent ban above tier two, quarterly data-center accountability meetings, and a ban on non-disclosure agreements with technology or data-center businesses. Staff noted the county currently has no data-center legislation and a zoning text amendment is moving through the planning process. On NDAs, discussion distinguished business-recruitment confidentiality from site-tour NDAs; a commissioner stated that no commissioner signed an NDA with TerraWolf. The county attorney cautioned that open meetings law already protects trade secrets and safety information. No separate data-center legislation was directed.

• Proposal 19 – Economic development task force: The board noted that an economic development advisory board already exists, so no action was taken.

Key Outcomes

• Staff will prepare legislation to remove the Heritage Commission from county code.
• Staff will bring revised traffic-calming program criteria this summer.
• PDRB process improvements will be discussed in July.
• Staff will provide more information and cost estimates on vacant commercial property registration.
• Staff will review HOA infrastructure warranty and reserve-study questions, including possible state legislation.
• DEI and ethics/governance training proposals will be combined into one draft for commissioners.
• Data-center-related proposals were left to the ongoing zoning text amendment process; no separate legislation was directed.
• The meeting recessed for a five-minute break before the 5:30 p.m. public hearing.