On Tuesday, Dec. 9 Sam Drury, Deputy Director; Ben Yeckley, Planning Supervisor; Ashley Chenault, Chief of Tourism; and Brittney Gray, Tourism Outreach Specialist, from the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, along with Alexander Golob of Golob Art, updated Commissioners on the Public Arts and Cultural Master Plan. The proposed plan is a comprehensive countywide framework for arts and culture designed to address community demands for coordination, space, and investment. Through community engagement efforts, staff heard that community members said the county lacks arts spaces and central arts venues.
Recreation, Parks, and Tourism staff, and Department of Economic Development staff also briefed commissioners on the status of the Sports and Wellness Complex project. The meeting included an update on the conceptual site plan, which provides space for both a natatorium and a sports complex, as well as additional spaces for a playground, a fitness/exercise area, basketball courts, and an amphitheater. The briefing also included a Budget Transfer Request of $150,000 for a market and financial feasibility study on the project. Commissioners approved the request.
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Collective Bargaining
Commissioners discussed a proposed bill on collective bargaining that was submitted by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II requested that staff use the bill provided by the organization and create a bill in line with county collective bargaining guidelines. The bill would then be brought to staff for a future public hearing. Commissioners gave consensus to the request.
- Jacob Dyer, Director of the Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services, and Samantha Chiriaco, Chief of Budget, held a briefing on the Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund Review for the First Quarter. The briefing also included a request to use unassigned fund balance for a $1,000 one-time take-home bonus for eligible full-time employees and a $250 one-time take-home bonus for eligible part-time employees on county payroll, and to increase the CIP Fund Balance reserve as presented by staff. Commissioners approved the request unanimously.
Dyer was joined by Kelli Scherer, Budget Analyst, to review the remaining unspent funding in the American Rescue Plan Act. The briefing included a request to transfer $709,947 to the Surface Transportation – Road Overlay budget by using savings from the Broadband Long Driveway Program and the Rental Assistance and Home Ownership Down Payment Assistance budgets. This request was approved unanimously.
· Commissioners held discussions on two agriculture-related items. The first concerned Zoning for Cannabis Production, Manufacturing, and Growing in Charles County. The conversation centered around zoning regulations related to hemp and cannabis cultivation. Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling (District 1) requested that staff review county regulations around cannabis and hemp to ensure consistency with state law.
The second conversation focused on the inspections and enforcement process related to agriculture and the involvement of Nuisance Abatement Hearing and Agricultural Reconciliation Boards. The conversation included a request from Commissioners for staff to review the County Code and potentially work on legislation to exempt agricultural operations from specific vehicle weight requirements.
Actions on Boards and Commissions
Commissioners took the following actions on Charles County Boards and Commissions:
- Reappointed Linda Stansbury, Roy Naraine, Jacqueline Pressey, Cheryl Robinson, Cynthia Vaughan and appointed Sara Cano, Fanny Urkums, Donta Varney, and Khenae Pearson as Members to the Area Council on Aging.
- Appointed Hayden Jarboe, Nils Kinuani, Jabari Douglas, Erica Wilson, Marshall Edwards and Jude Mutah as Members of the Board of Social Services.
- Appointed Aaron Miskell, Christopher Allen, Justin Dick, and William Flowers as Members of the Commission for Veteran’s Affairs.
- Appointed April Hodges as the Representative of the Charles County Humane Society to the Animal Matter Hearing Board.
- Reappointed Anbrea McCoy as an Alternate Member, Maxine Somerville, Angel Rogers, and Christopher Nickerson as Citizen Members to the Ethics Commission.
Approval Items
- A Budget Transfer Request of $330,620 to cover a shortfall in local funding for construction costs for the College of Southern Maryland’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement Project.
- A Budget Amendment Increase of $735,000 to account for funding received from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for Local Parks and Playground Infrastructure – Project Open Space Funding. The funding will support upgrades to the field lighting at the synthetic turf field at Laurel Springs Park.
- A Budget Amendment Increase of $2.26 million to account for funding received from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for Local Parks and Playground Infrastructure – Project Open Space Funding. The funding will support the installation of modern playground equipment, shade structures, additional pavilions, and other amenities at Laurel Springs Park.
- A letter supporting a partnership between Charles County’s Volunteer Fire and EMS Association Leadership.
- A request to use community support funds for the Commission for Veterans Affairs.
- A request to approve the bylaws for the Commission for Veterans’ Affairs.
- An approval for land acquisition along Billingsley Road.
- An update to the Standard Operating Procedure of the Internal Audit Charter.
- Acceptance of the Compensation Commission Recommendations report as it relates to the BOCC’s salary and the stipends for 8 additional boards. Commissioners will review the stipends during an upcoming budget session.
