On Tuesday, March 1, Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services, Department of Planning and Growth Management, Department of Human Resources, County Administration, Media Services Division, County Attorney’s Office, and Economic Development Department staff provided an updateon Goal 2 Institutional Governance and Policy of the Commissioners’ Goals and Objectives. Highlights included new automated technologies; increased cyber protections; streamlining the permit system; internal learning opportunities for employees including diversity trainings at all levels and emotional intelligence trainings for executive and managing leadership; updated recruitment statistics; county branding through earned media and digital platforms; citizen engagement; legislative updates; governance leadership; and local and minority business programs.
Commissioner President Announcements
County Commissioners joined together in a moment of silence, in respect and remembrance of the residents in Ukraine.
Charles County businesses are reminded to apply to the county’s Business Growth Advantage Program. This program is a business training curriculum, offered at no cost to Charles County-based business owners. Additional details available here.
County Commissioners discussed hybrid, virtual, and in-person options for weekly Commissioner meetings, public hearings, and quarterly town hall meetings. County Commissioners directed staff to create hybrid options for weekly Commissioner meetings, public hearings and quarterly town hall meetings, with in-person options in the Blue Room of the County Government Building (200 Baltimore Street, La Plata). Chief of Media Services Jennifer Harris encouraged County Commissioners to consider the accessibility of county residents and how to engage them in weekly meetings, as well as offered to provide recommended strategies in a future meeting.
Legislative Update
Associate County Attorney II Danielle Mitchell provided an updateon the 2022 Maryland General Assembly Session. County Commissioners approved sending a letter of support for House Bill 1290and letter of support for House Bill 162, and for a letter of support to drafted for House Bill 1124. County Commissioners discussed the Maryland Association of Counties’ requestfor members to testify for House Bill 1187/ Senate Bill 726 Transportation Highway User Revenues; previously, the state reduced these allocations to the counties and this request would potentially bring more funding to the county level. County Commissioners provided consensus to send the letter of support and provide oral testimony. Other highlighted bills included Senate Bill 128, House Bill 1416, House Bill 1423/ Senate Bill 865, House Bill 739/ Senate Bill 916, House Bill 1415, and Senate Bill 76. House Bill 1114/ Senate Bill 741 was withdrawn.
Later in the Commissioners meeting, Mitchell provided an update on House Bill 162 including that the Charles County Sheriff’s Office has concerns with the practicality of the bill and have not taken a stance. However, the Maryland Sheriff’s Office Association is in support of the bill, with amendments. Mitchell is drafting a letter of support for the bill.
Approval Items
Commissioners also approved:
Assistant Chief of Planning Charles Rice and Planner III Joel Binkley provided an updateon the Newburg Septic Tier Map designation and a proposal to reclassify 900 acres from Tier 2 (planned for public sewer service) to Tier 4 (planned to remain rural allowing minor subdivision). County Commissioners approved moving forward with the Tier Map Amendment process and schedule a County Commissioner public hearing at a later date.
Recycling and Litter Control Superintendent Meg Romero provided an updateon Clean Charles initiatives. The Charles County Community Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2022. Residents can select an outdoor, public space to beautify and remove litter and county staff will provide supplies, such as bags, litter grabbers, gloves, safety vests, mulch, and trash disposal. To organize a cleanup, visit our website.
Proclamations
Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
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Commissioner President Announcements
County Commissioners joined together in a moment of silence, in respect and remembrance of the residents in Ukraine.
Charles County businesses are reminded to apply to the county’s Business Growth Advantage Program. This program is a business training curriculum, offered at no cost to Charles County-based business owners. Additional details available here.
- Charles County Health Officer Dr. Dianna E. Abney provided an updateon COVID-19 in Charles County. There are a variety of vaccination clinics in the community, which include mobile pop-up clinics, schools, congregate living facilities, churches, and vaccines for the homebound. Residents can make their own vaccination appointments and walk-ins are accepted. For a list of county vaccination clinics and testing sites, visit the Department of Health’s website.
- There is a COVID-19 testing site at the Regency Furniture Stadium (11765 St. Linus Drive, Waldorf) daily from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For a list of pharmacies and other vaccination clinics and testing sites available, visit the State of Maryland’s website. At-home COVID tests and KN95 mask distributions are available at public libraries and other local organizations and places of worship.
- At-home test kits are available at Charles County Public Library branches. To pick up a test, you must make a curbside pickup appointment by calling the branch you would like to pick up from. Contact information for the branches is available here.
- University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center Vice President of Ancillary Services Bill Grimes provided an update on current COVID-19 hospitalizations and staff COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
- Chief of Media Services Jen Harris provided an update on the county’s communication efforts, including continuing to work with state partners on latest COVID-19 updates and information.
- Charles County Public Schools Director of School Safety and Security Jason Stoddard provided an update on the schools’ COVID-19 contact tracing process and case statistics. Charles County Board of Education voted to eliminate the mask mandate in schools and on school buses, effective immediately. Masks are now optional students, staff, and visitors to Charles County Public Schools.
- Charles County Charitable Trust representative provided a presentationon the Nonprofit Workforce Panel Survey, which included results from 39 nonprofits. Top answers for nonprofit workforce shortages included a reduction in volunteer force of the pandemic, stress and/or burnout, lack of financial resources to hire individuals in place of tasks previously performed by volunteers, and salary competition. More than 45 percent of survey participants felt there was a decrease of services during the pandemic, and more than 55 percent saw a significant net revenue decrease because of the pandemic.
- Charles County Homeless and Emergency Shelter Committeerepresentatives provided a presentationon the committee, the current services offered to the homeless community, pandemic impacts and trends, and recommendations for the future.
County Commissioners discussed hybrid, virtual, and in-person options for weekly Commissioner meetings, public hearings, and quarterly town hall meetings. County Commissioners directed staff to create hybrid options for weekly Commissioner meetings, public hearings and quarterly town hall meetings, with in-person options in the Blue Room of the County Government Building (200 Baltimore Street, La Plata). Chief of Media Services Jennifer Harris encouraged County Commissioners to consider the accessibility of county residents and how to engage them in weekly meetings, as well as offered to provide recommended strategies in a future meeting.
Legislative Update
Associate County Attorney II Danielle Mitchell provided an updateon the 2022 Maryland General Assembly Session. County Commissioners approved sending a letter of support for House Bill 1290and letter of support for House Bill 162, and for a letter of support to drafted for House Bill 1124. County Commissioners discussed the Maryland Association of Counties’ requestfor members to testify for House Bill 1187/ Senate Bill 726 Transportation Highway User Revenues; previously, the state reduced these allocations to the counties and this request would potentially bring more funding to the county level. County Commissioners provided consensus to send the letter of support and provide oral testimony. Other highlighted bills included Senate Bill 128, House Bill 1416, House Bill 1423/ Senate Bill 865, House Bill 739/ Senate Bill 916, House Bill 1415, and Senate Bill 76. House Bill 1114/ Senate Bill 741 was withdrawn.
Later in the Commissioners meeting, Mitchell provided an update on House Bill 162 including that the Charles County Sheriff’s Office has concerns with the practicality of the bill and have not taken a stance. However, the Maryland Sheriff’s Office Association is in support of the bill, with amendments. Mitchell is drafting a letter of support for the bill.
Approval Items
Commissioners also approved:
- A budget transfer requestof $100,000 to cover additional fees for vendor mobile dredging to complete emergency holding basin cleaning at Swan Point Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- A letter of supportfor the Friends of Rich Hill’s application to the Maryland Heritage Area Authority’s capital grant to fund the completion of the Historic Rich Hill Farmhouse rehabilitation.
- Appointed George Willett as chair of the Disability Review Board/ Sheriff Disability Pension.
- Reappointed Keith Hettel to the Length of Service Award Program.
- Appointed Kimberly Goode and Tina Haney to the Homeowners Association Dispute Review Board.
Assistant Chief of Planning Charles Rice and Planner III Joel Binkley provided an updateon the Newburg Septic Tier Map designation and a proposal to reclassify 900 acres from Tier 2 (planned for public sewer service) to Tier 4 (planned to remain rural allowing minor subdivision). County Commissioners approved moving forward with the Tier Map Amendment process and schedule a County Commissioner public hearing at a later date.
Recycling and Litter Control Superintendent Meg Romero provided an updateon Clean Charles initiatives. The Charles County Community Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2022. Residents can select an outdoor, public space to beautify and remove litter and county staff will provide supplies, such as bags, litter grabbers, gloves, safety vests, mulch, and trash disposal. To organize a cleanup, visit our website.
Proclamations
- National Women’s History Month
- Good Sportsmanship Month
- National Agriculture Day
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Day
- National Vietnam War Veterans Day
- Social Work Month
- Irish American Heritage Month
- National Deaf History Month
- 20+ Years Length of Service
- Top Performer for the Fourth Quarter: A Department of Emergency Services Team led by EMS Captain Joseph Summers created videos for emergency medical technician testing purposes. Team members included EMT-B Charles Hicks; Paramedics Jason Hardesty, Caitland Kelshaw, Anita Austin and Michelle Mycka; EMS Captain Heather Shymansky; Assistant Chief of EMS Lori Cherry; and part-time EMT William Kitzmiller.
- Top Performer of the Year: Animal Control Officers Alison Budd, Jeff Gustafson, Jeff Thomas, and Amanda Heiss for assisting the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for two incidents with aggressive canines in the county.
Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
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