Charles County Board of Commissioners Meeting - October 20, 2026

The meeting was called to order on October 20, 2026, with Commissioners Bowling, Coates, Stewart, and Collins present; Commissioner Patterson was absent. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. Commissioner Collins recognized the county's 10th consecutive year of AAA bond ratings from all three major credit agencies. Commissioner Bowling acknowledged the passing of community leader Bernard Winkler. A motion to declare the day a legislative day failed on a 2-2 vote, preventing introduction of certain bills. The meeting covered administrative approvals, policy discussions, and briefings from multiple departments.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the October 6, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.
• Budget amendment 120 ($66,500 for tree maintenance under Chesapeake Bay Trust cooperative agreement) was approved.
• Budget amendment 170 ($180,000 for strategic advisory services for the Western Charles County Tech Corridor) was approved.
• Budget transfer 805 ($1.8 million from land/right-of-way to construction for Western Parkway Phase 3B) was approved. Discussion noted that Phase 3A bids came in 20% higher than estimates, leading to a $6.1 million construction estimate for Phase 3B.
• A request to light the courthouse teal on November 2, 2026 for Alzheimer's awareness was approved.
• Funding of $118.06 for a Diwali celebration and $854.53 for a clergy dinner, from the Interfaith Commission's community support funds, were approved.
• A new Water and Sewer Assistance Program was established with $300,000 in general fund support, offering a $400 one-time annual benefit to eligible households. The program will launch January 1, 2027.

Discussion Items

Legislative Day Motion: Commissioner Collins moved to make October 20, 2026 a legislative day; the motion was seconded but failed on a roll call vote (Commissioners Coates and Collins in favor; Bowling and Stewart opposed; Patterson absent). This prevented introduction of the Heritage Commission code update and collective bargaining items.

Letter of Support for Neighborhood Creative Arts Center (NCAC): Dr. Georgia Itma Bonnie, founder and executive director, requested a letter of support for a $585,650 state legislative bond initiative to create a permanent arts campus at 11680 Doolittle Drive in Waldorf. Some commissioners initially questioned the location and whether it conflicted with county plans. After clarification that NCAC is a separate nonprofit and no county funding is required, the board unanimously approved the letter of support.

Orphan's Court Proposal: Commissioners considered a proposal to require Orphan's Court judges to hold law degrees. Acting Deputy County Administrator Danielle Mitchell reported that of roughly 200 cases heard annually, only 4-6 are appealed to circuit court (filing fee $165). Commissioners discussed the cost-effectiveness of the current system and noted that a state task force studied the issue in 2025-2026, recommending further work, and that the Maryland Supreme Court mandated continuing education for Orphan's Court judges by January 2027. The consensus was not to include the proposal in the county's legislative package at this time, citing ongoing state-level efforts and the need for local judiciary input.

Sheriff's Office Retirement Plan (SORP) Annual Briefing: Alton Fryer (Bolton) reported the plan had $523.6 million in assets as of June 30, 2026, with a one-year return of 11.92% (net of fees), exceeding the 7.25% assumption. The 10-year annualized return was 8.79%. Michelle Boyle presented the actuarial update: funded ratio at 80.9% (actuarial value) and 82.9% (market value) as of July 1, 2025. The county contribution for FY2027 was $21.6 million (38.8% of payroll). An experience study will be conducted in the coming year.

Charles County Pension Plan Annual Briefing: Lazaro Guzman (M Power) reported assets of $406 million as of mid-October. The one-year return was 13.5% (net of fees); the 10-year return was 8.5%, surpassing the 7.05% assumption. David Papalardo presented the actuarial update: the actuarially determined contribution for FY2027 was $10.3 million (11.5% of payroll), up from the prior year due to average salary increases of 7% and COLA of 3%. The funded ratio was 94% (actuarial value) and 111% (market value), placing the plan in the top quartile of public plans nationally.

Economic Development Department Highlights: Director Jim Chandler reported a return on investment of $11.67 per dollar invested, based on MEDA data. Michelle Fry highlighted the redesigned website (meetcharlescounty.com). Anthony Adesina discussed the success of the Business Growth Advantage Program (BGAP) and the new Launch Pad pilot program, which graduated 52 businesses from 64 applicants with a waiting list of 52. Commissioners expressed strong support for institutionalizing Launch Pad and requested a cost estimate for sustainable funding, exploring mentorship from established businesses and potential tax credits. Mark Thompson reported that the Western Charles County Technology Corridor is seeing significant hiring; 200+ positions are expected to be filled in the next six months, and a second job fair is scheduled for October 21, 2026 at the Velocity Center.

Public Works Department Update:

• Western Parkway: Phase 3A3 is under construction (completion January 2027); an $80,000 savings was achieved via soil cementing. Phase 3B construction procurement begins October 2026, with construction start in February 2027 and completion in 2028. Traffic signal improvements at MD 301 will be bid in spring 2027.
• Animal Care Center: MEP work in progress; estimated completion February 2027.
• Pinefield EMS: 90% dry-in complete; estimated completion May 2027.
• La Plata Library: Grading and demolition permits have been issued by the Town of La Plata, but the building permit is pending due to a water allocation issue. Commissioners expressed frustration over years of delays, with Commissioner Bowling suggesting the town may be using the permit as leverage for water allocation for new housing. Acting County Administrator Deb Hall assured that the town manager stated water would not be an impediment. Staff recommended a groundbreaking in March 2027 after construction costs are known and the building permit is issued. Commissioner Bowling advocated for immediate demolition to demonstrate progress. Following discussion, the board directed staff to proceed with demolition using the existing permits, install a sign after the building permit is obtained, and hold a formal groundbreaking in spring 2027 to recognize the outgoing board.
• Sidewalk Program: Elisha O'Froil reported 46 requested projects, with 7 active totaling about 4 miles. The program uses a prioritization matrix considering connectivity, equity, and complexity. Challenges include right-of-way constraints, utilities, and environmental factors.

Board of Fire and Rescue Annual Update: Richard Gilroy presented the annual report. The board reviewed capital expenditures, fund distributions, and company financial stability. Highlights included the operational status of Westlake Volunteer Fire and EMS (separated from Waldorf), solar energy project at Ryansville funded by a $300,000 grant, and replacement of all mobile data terminals in apparatus. He noted ongoing challenges with apparatus delivery delays (3-4 years for pumpers, 4-5 for ladder trucks). Gilroy announced he will step down as chair in December 2026.

Key Outcomes

• All budget amendments and transfers were approved.
• Courthouse teal lighting, Interfaith Commission funding, and the letter of support for NCAC were approved.
• The Water and Sewer Assistance Program was established for January 2027 launch.
• The Orphan's Court judge eligibility proposal was not included in the state legislative package.
• The motion to declare a legislative day failed, preventing introduction of Heritage Commission and collective bargaining items.
• The board directed staff to begin demolition of the La Plata library site and schedule a groundbreaking for spring 2027.
• Staff will explore sustainable funding options for Launch Pad and other economic development programs.
• The board will review pension plan experience studies in the next year.
• Closed session was held to discuss potential litigation and agreement negotiations.