Charles County Board of Commissioners Meeting - October 6, 2026

The Board of Commissioners met on October 6, 2026, starting at 4:00 PM. Commissioner Collins was absent. The meeting included consent approvals, a presentation on police accountability recommendations, planning for the December 1st oath of office ceremony, and a public comment period covering data centers, HOA dispute fees, water supply, and other community concerns. Key votes included approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Resilience Authority and a sewer infrastructure agreement.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the September 29, 2026 meeting were approved by voice vote (motion by Commissioner Patterson, second by Commissioner Stewart).
• Memorandum of Understanding with the Resilience Authority: Approved unanimously. The MOU establishes a partnership to implement a forest preservation program to earn credits toward the county's MS4 stormwater permit. Charles Rice (Planning Director) and Stacey Schaefer (Resilience Authority Executive Director) presented the program, noting that it complements existing land conservation efforts.
• Sewer Infrastructure Improvement Agreement: Approved unanimously. Jason Groth (Director of Planning and Growth Management) explained that the agreement reimburses a developer for building excess sewer capacity in the Waldorf area, with the county recouping costs through system expansion fees. The developer will also preserve easements for a future sewer project.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public comments were heard from 7 in-person and 2 virtual speakers. Each speaker was limited to three minutes. Commissioners responded collectively after all comments.

• Mark Smith (Charlotte Hall): Expressed support for addressing data center concerns but warned against overly broad definitions that could inadvertently restrict modern agriculture and small businesses. Urged the board to carefully define “data center” to avoid unintended consequences.
• Deborah Hill (White Plains): Described the high cost ($927 total) of filing a complaint with the HOA Dispute Review Board, calling it a barrier for homeowners. She requested a fee reduction or a waiver process for legitimate claims, especially given delays in the board’s response.
• Velma Longest (White Plains): Also spoke on HOA dispute fees, noting she filed a complaint and could afford it, but many homeowners cannot. She asked the commissioners to review the fee structure and consider income-based waivers or shifting costs to HOAs.
• Alana Davis (District 3, leader of Charles County Against Data Centers Coalition): Criticized Governor Moore’s executive orders as insufficient and urged the board to introduce county legislation banning data centers. She stated that Commissioner Bowling had committed to introducing such a ban but has not done so, and asked him to follow through regardless of likely failure.
• Trudy Bidot (La Plata): Representing the same coalition, she noted that Calvert County’s commissioners who opposed a moratorium were ousted in primaries, and St. Mary’s County commissioners have explicitly opposed data centers. She warned that voters will express their views at the polls on November 3rd.
• David Heidelbach (Charlotte Hall): Raised concerns about water supply, arguing that demand will soon exceed supply. He criticized the planned WSSC agreement as insufficient and asked for more detailed reports, including cost projections and contingency plans. He offered to provide a list of questions for the Planning and Growth Management department.
• Jacqueline Moore (Cobb Island, virtual): Criticized PJM’s executive director for what she called distorted facts about power generation. She also noted ongoing issues at the Aqualand property (spotty internet, difficulty accessing services) and requested a billboard for Cobb Neck. She urged commissioners to do more homework on energy issues.
• Greg Waring (Waldorf, virtual): Requested an update on the Inspector General (IG) process, noting unanimous approval on May 19, 2026, but no visible progress. He also criticized the board’s legislative strategy for the IG, stating that a two-bill approach (statewide enabling plus county-specific) was recommended by the delegation but not pursued.

Discussion Items

• Commissioner’s New Business – Motion to Reschedule 6:00 PM Item: Commissioner Bowling moved to move the 6:00 PM agenda item to the first meeting of the new board (in December) to allow the incoming commissioners to weigh in, citing budget, policy, and personnel impacts. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stewart. After discussion, a roll call vote resulted in a 2-2 tie (Bowling and Stewart yes; Coates and Patterson no; Collins absent), so the motion failed. Commissioner Bowling then requested that the item be moved to the next available meeting when all commissioners could attend, possibly October 17th or another date. Staff noted that Commissioner Collins would join virtually at 6:00 PM.
• Police Accountability Board (PAB) and Administrative Charging Committee (ACC) Annual Update: Granville Johnson (PAB Chair) and Daniel Mitchell (Acting Deputy County Administrator) presented the annual report dated December 29, 2025. Key recommendations included: (1) advocate for state legislation to allow officers to file misconduct complaints directly with the PAB; (2) expunge exonerated complaints from personnel files; (3) conduct a comprehensive audit of body-worn camera footage abnormalities; (4) advocate for legislative amendments to clarify that minor vehicle collisions are not automatically misconduct; and (5) allow the ACC to establish trial board processes and have independent counsel prosecute cases before trial boards, rather than relying on the law enforcement agency’s attorneys. Johnson noted that in at least two instances, the sheriff’s department’s attorney disagreed with ACC findings and declined to present a case at the trial board, undermining the accountability process. Commissioners Patterson and Coates questioned the transparency and process. Commissioner Patterson asked if the ACC’s recommendations ever conflicted with sheriff’s department policy; Johnson said no. The discussion highlighted that while the sheriff can increase disciplinary charges, he cannot reduce them, and the ACC has no role in the trial board appeal. Mitchell clarified that these recommendations have been presented in prior years but were not adopted. The PAB plans to coordinate with other jurisdictions to build statewide support. No vote was taken; the update was informational.
• Oath of Office Ceremony Planning: Staff (Jesse Bonkayo and Julie Losh) presented plans for the December 1, 2026 swearing-in ceremony and reception. Three venues were considered: College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Theater, Thomas Stone High School, and the future Sports and Wellness Center. CSM was the top choice but lacked adequate reception space with seating; the Sports and Wellness Center required too much setup and cost. Thomas Stone High School was selected because it offers a connected auditorium and reception space, ample parking, zero rental fee, and better security flow. The budget is $25,000, the same as four years ago. Catering proposals are being finalized; invitations have been ordered and will be sent after the November 3rd election. The program will include Acting County Administrator Deborah Hall, the Clerk of the Court, and the Thomas Stone JROTC. Commissioner Patterson requested the agenda item to ensure transparency on taxpayer-funded event. Commissioner Stewart expressed disappointment that the presentation removed the “wow” factor and felt the details could have been handled directly with staff. Staff confirmed the auditorium at the county government building was not ready due to construction uncertainties. The venue choice was supported by Commissioner Patterson and others.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to reschedule 6:00 PM item: Failed on a 2-2 tie vote (Bowling, Stewart yes; Coates, Patterson no; Collins absent). Staff indicated the item might be considered later that evening when Commissioner Collins joined virtually.
• Minutes of September 29, 2026: Approved unanimously.
• MOU with Resilience Authority: Approved unanimously.
• Sewer Infrastructure Improvement Agreement: Approved unanimously.
• Police Accountability Board Recommendations: No formal vote; the board received the annual update. Staff noted that prior legislative recommendations were not adopted, and the PAB will continue to seek statewide support. Commissioners suggested the board provide recommendations to the state delegation by June/July for the next legislative cycle.
• Oath of Office Ceremony: Thomas Stone High School confirmed as the venue for December 1, 2026, with a $25,000 budget. Next steps include finalizing catering, production needs, and room layouts. The program will be shared with commissioners before printing.