On Wednesday, May 7, Commissioners also received an update on the Fiscal Year 2025 General Fund, the American Rescue Plan Act, and conferred with the Towns of La Plata and Indian Head on the Fiscal Year 2026 Tax Differential. The afternoon session also included the annual public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. Commissioners are scheduled to adopt the budget on May 20.
Briefings
Dr. Dianna Abney, Health Officer, provided the Bi-Annual Health Department Report. Dr. Abney provided an update the status of measles in the United States and other Disease Prevention and Health promotion programs.
Michelle Lilly, Director of the Department of Emergency Services; Jennifer Mott, RN MIH Program Manager; Dr. Kevin Seamen, Medical Director; and Constance Coggins and Tia Deloatch of Sante Group, briefed commissioners on the Mobile Integrated Health and Mobile Crisis Teams. The Mobile Integrated Health Team was established in 2017 via an MOU with the Charles County Department of Health and Charles Regional Medical Center. The team focuses on access to care, connection to community resources, and other emergency services.
The Mobile Crisis Team provides immediate, community-based face-to-face intervention for individuals experiencing an acute mental health crisis. The team responds to acute crisis situations in St. Mary’s and Charles Counties.
Beth Groth, Climate Resilience and Sustainability Officer, presented the Maryland Climate Adaptation Report Card. The report measures the county’s ability to withstand the effects of climate change and guides the county to where investment is needed. Charles County scored an initial grade of B-. The county has strong resilience factors in groundwater management, living shorelines, and flooding, while the need for improvement was noted in resistance to hurricanes, extreme weather, and riverine flooding.
Commissioners discussed a proposed Fire Suppression task force to review and support fire prevention services in the county and then gave consensus for the Board of Fire and Rescue to study and provide recommendations on operational and accountability improvements. The Board will return at a later date to brief Commissioners on a potential timeline and work plan for reviewing and making recommendations for improvements to fire suppression and the volunteer organizational structure.
Approval Items
Commissioners approved:
The VanGO Five Year Transit Development Plan. The plan outlines a course of action to implement service and/or organizational changes, improvements, or expansions of the VanGO transit system.
A resolution establishing the Charles County Compensation Commission. The commission provides recommendations for the salaries for each Board of County Commissioners member for the 2026-2030 term.
A resolution authorizing a land transfer to the Official Piscataway Conoy Tribe of Maryland, Inc., Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling abstained.
