On Tuesday, May 7, Jacob Dyer, Acting Director of the Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services, and Ms. TaTanya Bowman, Assistant Chief of Budget, held additional 2025 budget work sessions with the Commissioners. Tuesday’s briefing focused on the commissioner’s add/delete forms for the general fund and the Fiscal 2025-Fiscal 2029 capital improvement program. Add/delete forms are the commissioner's way of making changes to the budget before formal adoption. For detailed information on the proposed Fiscal 2025 Budget, read the full news release here. Formal adoption of the proposed 2025 budget is scheduled for May 14.

Briefings

• Commissioners received highlights on the activities of the Department of Emergency Services, the Department of Planning and Growth Management, the Office of the County Attorney, and the Office of the County Administrator.
• Jenifer Ellin, Acting Deputy County Administrator; Evelyn Jacobson, Chief Information Officer; Matt Jacobson, Network Specialist II, briefed commissioners on the Rural Broadband Taskforce's ongoing activities. Staff from ThinkBig Networks participated in the presentation and highlighted the Nanjemoy-Cobb Neck Broadband buildout.  This project was completed in February 2024, bringing new fiber optic networks that passed over 1500 Nanjemoy and Cobb Neck residents. The presentation included a briefing on an additional Northern Nanjemoy project slated to pass about 290 properties by Aug. 31, 2025. Commissioners were also briefed on the progress of fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023 network infrastructure projects carried out by Comcast and Verizon.
• Jacob Dyer, Acting Director, and Ms. TaTanya Bowman, Assistant Chief of Budget, provided commissioners with a third-quarter fiscal 2024 general fund review.
• Jenifer Ellin, Acting Deputy County Administrator, and Kelli Scherer, Budget Analyst II, provided an update on the county’s use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Public Hearings

Commissioners held two public hearings on the county's proposed Community Development Block Grant Application uses. They approved Resolution 2024-08 to submit the grant application to acquire a residence for use as a domestic violence shelter for women. They voted 3-2 to keep the record open until May 20 on the second Community Development Block Grant Application, to procure land for an affordable housing development in La Plata.

Commissioners also held a public hearing on 37 local legislative proposals. After hearing from residents, they voted unanimously to keep the record open until June 7. A follow-up work session is scheduled for June 11.

Annual Reports

County Commissioners received updates on the activities of the Commission for Veterans Affairs.

Approval items

Commissioners approved:

• A resolution to declare Charles County a “Stroke Smart County.”
• A letter in support of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office to seek a grant from the fiscal 2026 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program.

Actions on Boards and Commissions

Commissioners took the following actions on county boards and commissions:

• Reappoint Darnelle Brown as a citizen member of the Area Council on Aging.
• Reappoint Linda Hamel as nurse, William Morgan as nonprofit social services representative, and Albert Williams as attorney on the Adult Guardianship Review Board.

Proclamations

Commissioners recognized the following proclamations:

• Foster Care Awareness Month
• National Drug Court Month
• National Mental Health Awareness Month
• Older Americans Month
• National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
• Jewish American Heritage Month
• National Small Business Week
• Business Appreciation Week
• Economic Development Week
• Public Service Recognition Week
• National Public Works Week
• National Travel and Tourism Week
• National Correctional Officer Appreciation Week
• National Police Week
• National Salvation Army Week
• Emergency Medical Services Appreciation Week
• Emergency Medical Services for Children Day
• National Bike to Work Day
• Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Awareness Day
• Law Day
• No Menthol Sunday
• World No Tobacco Day
• Childrens Mental Health Awareness Week

 

Viewing option of the meeting and the Commissioner Listening Session: Click Here

 

Next Commissioners Session: May 14 – May 15

 

Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.