Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Charles County Board of Commissioners held a meeting on September 15, 2026, featuring annual updates from several appointed boards and commissions, followed by a policy discussion on marijuana cultivation zoning. Commissioner Patterson was absent. The meeting included roll call with Commissioners Bowling, Coates, Stewart, Collins present.
Marquesa and Erica Thomas reported on the commission's shift to visible, trackable action. They highlighted expanded public presence at six community events, including the Autism Acceptance Forum and Resource Fair on April 4, 2026. The commission secured its first operational allocation of $1,500 in August 2026 for outreach materials. They monitor voting accessibility, citing inconsistencies at polling sites (e.g., St. Charles High School required crossing a large parking lot and navigating a curb). Commissioner Daisha Miller presented accessibility concerns to the Board of Education; the Maryland State Department of Education found allegations against CCPS founded, with corrective actions required. At Wade Elementary, the school system acknowledged an error regarding an accessible swing and memorial bench; both were delivered and installed on the meeting day. The commission tracks activities via Monday.com. They have 8 of 13 authorized seats filled and are recruiting for five vacancies.
Anthony Wilson, treasurer, reported on the advisory board's activities. The board has all 13 seats filled. Highlights include: adopting families for Thanksgiving and Christmas, providing personal care items to DSS clients, a gardening project at Clifford House scheduled for September 24, 2026, supporting five youth via an angel tree, and hosting the first board retreat with an outside provider for strategic planning. They are exploring grants with MASP and DSS. The board's operating budget is $12,679.46 for the remainder of the fiscal year. Priorities include community awareness, partnerships, and closing service gaps.
Chair Linda Stansbrain reported the board oversees adults unable to care for their basic needs. In 2025, they oversaw guardianship of 23 clients (17 by DSS, 5 by Department of Aging). The board meets twice yearly in April and October; meetings are closed for confidentiality. They review medical conditions, medications, income, and make recommendations. Clients are visited monthly by caseworkers and attorneys. For the first time in years, the board had a full complement of members.
The council meets monthly September to June in hybrid format. Three major concerns emerged: rising healthcare and prescription costs, decreased food bank funding affecting food insecurity, and lack of affordable senior housing. Waiting lists for senior apartments are two to three years. The council explored scams targeting seniors, including romantic scams, with a class by Dr. Pressey. They visited Indian Head and Nanjemoy centers to hear concerns about rural life (lack of medical services, businesses, communication failures). They aim to make Charles County one of the most senior-friendly counties.
County Attorney Wes Adams introduced the topic following a constituent complaint about a property in a commercial village planning to cultivate marijuana. The Maryland Cannabis Act (MCA) allows the county to regulate zoning for cultivation. Currently, marijuana cultivation is permitted in any zone that allows agriculture. Commissioner Bowling expressed preference for limiting cultivation to industrial zones, based on rural community feedback. Commissioner Coates opposed having it anywhere but acknowledged state law; he suggested staff should bring examples from other jurisdictions. Commissioner Collins suggested focusing on where it should not be (residential and agricultural zones). Staff reported that as of December, nine Maryland counties treat marijuana like any other agricultural operation; others are more restrictive. The property in question has not yet obtained a state license and was not growing anything as of two weeks ago. Commissioner Bowling moved to direct staff to: (1) explore the possibility of a moratorium to prevent grandfathering, (2) bring back information on other counties' approaches, and (3) develop legislation to restrict cultivation to industrial zones. The board reached consensus on this direction.
Good afternoon, Commissioners. We're going to begin this portion of the session this afternoon with a roll call. Commissioner Bowling. Commissioner Coates. Commissioner Stewart. Commissioner Patterson is absent. Commissioner Collins. Here. Thank you. Commissioners, the next item on your agenda is the Charles County Boards and Commissions annual update. And the first is a briefing and annual update from the Board of Social Services. Do we have members from the Board of Social Services online? If you are, if you can unmute your microphone. Turn on turn on your mic. Yes. Ms. McGee, I think are you here for the Board of Social Services update? All right, Commissioners. I'm not sure if they're on yet. Um, but I believe we have the Commission on Individuals with Disability. All right, Miss Marquesa, if you want to go ahead and introduce yourself and I'll pull up your presentation. I would. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for having us. I am joined today by the secretary on the commission, Erica Thomas. Erica and I will both be presenting today. I'll give you a second to pull up our submission. And if you'll go to that, thank you. At an executive glance, uh the commission moved from research and moved from discussion and we move toward visible trackable action. We were looking at actions, outcome, and partnerships. Uh we've expanded our public presence within the county, and we advanced disability focused uh advocacy. Uh we were looking at measurable community impact supported by stronger relationships and clearer internal systems. That means we also established, could you go back one, please? Thank you. Uh we established some practical systems and ways that we could document and track what it is that uh we are trying to get accomplished, who it is we are contacting, and establishing uh which partnerships that we are engaging. Next slide. All right, our core responsibilities. Uh what we are charged with doing is advising county leadership on disability related matters. That means that we've been out and about in the community, supporting all of our ADA compliance and public access accessibility. We looked at four focus areas, and that is workforce development and employment, transportation, public access and safety, housing as well as education. And in all that we do, we are promoting inclusion, social acceptance, and full participation in the community. How did we get that done? I will pass that over to Erica Thomas, our secretary on the board. Our strategic goals, Marquesa, I believe you were doing strategic goals. If you're not prepared, I can do strategic goals. Oh, okay.