[Thursday, Nov.20, 2025]  On Tuesday, Nov. 18, Commissioners held a public hearing on Proposed Bill 2025-07: Commissioners’ Term Limits. Following the public hearing, the Board voted 3-2 to approve the bill, which would limit Commissioners to serving no more than two four-year terms, either consecutively or non-consecutively. The term limit will apply whether a commissioner serves as a district representative or as president and is effective for the term beginning in 2022. Provisions were made should a vacancy occur, with the term limit applying if that vacancy occurs after two or more years of service.

 

Bond Sale

 

• Charles County Government held its annual bond sale. This year’s total sale was $75 million. The yearly sale pays for the financing, refinancing, or reimbursing of the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, alteration, and equipping of certain buildings, facilities, equipment, and grounds in Charles County, Maryland. The winning bidder was Piper Sandler & Co. with a true interest cost (TIC) of 3.498896%.

 

Briefings

• Elizabeth Theobalds, Deputy County Attorney, provided an update on costs related to Commissioners’ Legal Fees for Commissioner Coates’ Lawsuit. To date, the county has spent about $1.6 million in fees over the course of the case. Costs totaling $121,490.98 reflect costs for appeals filed by Commissioner Coates, were not approved for payment by the County Commissioners and remain unpaid. 

 

• Joel Binkley, Planning Supervisor, Preservation and Long Range Planning, Department of Planning and Growth Management; Mark Thompson, Chief of Commercial Development, Economic Development Department; and Dawud Abdur-Rahman, Planning Commission Secretary, presented a briefing on the strategies proposed by the Affordable Housing Workgroup. The briefing examined the need for affordable housing in Charles County, the income and housing spectrum, and provided recommendations in three policy areas: Supply (changes to land-use regulations), Subsidy (public investment), and Support (keeping existing housing livable and affordable). Commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with staff recommendations.

 

• Dina Barclay, Director of the Department of Community Services, and Cathy Thompson, Deputy Director of Planning & Growth Management, briefed the Commissioners on the Affordable Housing PILOT Notice of Funding Availability. The program addressed a need by identifying funding sources and developing a standardized procedure for considering affordable housing programs. Commissioners voted 3-2 to pass the plan.

 

• Jacob Dyer, Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services; Samantha Chiriaco, Chief of Budget; and Eric Jackson, Chief of Treasury; gave an overview of Charles County Tax Credits. The presentation covered the tax credits offered by the county and the state of Maryland, and the current number of participants in each tax credit.

 

• Jacob Dyer, Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services, briefed the Commissioners on the Preliminary Board of Education Capital Budget Request Review. The preliminary funding requests included $24.6 million for modernizations/additions to La Plata High School and approximately $3 million for full-day kindergarten additions and renovations at Dr. Thomas Higdon Elementary School.

 

 

Actions on Boards and Commissions

Commissioners took the following actions on Charles County Boards and Commissions:

 

• Commissioner Committee Assignments
• Reappoint Donald Poole as a Citizen Member to the Charles County Administrative Charging Committee. 
• Reappoint Joyce Schmitt as the Retiree Member to the Charles County Pension Plan Committee.
• Reappoint Tina Haney, Aminat Odunewu-Seese, and Cheryle Walker, as Members to the Homeowner’s Association Dispute Review Board. 
• Reappoint Wayne Klinger as a Citizen Member to the LOSAP Board. 
• Reappoint Teresa Jones and Anaiah Mitchell as Citizen Members to the Nuisance Abatement Hearing Board.
• Reappoint Kevin Wedding as Chair and Jeffery Bossart as a Citizen Member to the Planning Commission.

 

 

Approval Items

Commissioners approved:

• A budget amendment increase of $169,420 for additional construction costs related to the Mattawoman Wastewater Treatment Plant Flow Equalization Project.
• A Change Order of $196,226.40 to provide additional funding to cover the costs of engineering support services.
• A draft letter to the Charles County Delegation on Grant and Funding Allocations for crisis response teams in Southern Maryland.
• A request for approval to cancel a Community Development Block Grant previously awarded to Osprey Property Company.