Charles County Reviews EMS, Fiscal Policies, and Legislative Proposals

David M. Higgins II, Publisher/Editor

June 14

The Charles County Commissioners convened on Tuesday, June 11, to discuss key updates and proposals affecting emergency services, fiscal policies, and community development. The meeting featured presentations from various department heads and included significant legislative and budgetary decisions.

Emergency Preparedness and Safety Update

Michelle Lilly, Director of the Department of Emergency Services, along with Jeffrey Clements, Chief of Communications, Jeffrey Thomas, Chief of Animal Control, and Lori Cherry, Chief of EMS and Special Operations, delivered a comprehensive update on the goals and objectives of emergency preparedness, response, and safety. Key highlights of their presentation included:

Pinefield EMS Station Construction: Progress updates on the construction of the new EMS station aimed at enhancing emergency response capabilities.
Hot and Cold Dispatch Response: Introduction of differentiated dispatch responses to optimize resource allocation based on the severity of incidents.
Performance Metrics: Development of OpenGov Pages to measure call volume and performance metrics for EMS, 911 communications, and animal control services.

Fiscal and Legislative Briefings

Jacob Dyer, Acting Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services, and Danielle Mitchell, Assistant Deputy County Attorney, briefed the Commissioners on Proposed Bill 2024-(12), which aims to establish a Community Reinvestment and Repair Funds (CRRF). This bill, in compliance with Maryland law, will specify the use of CRRF funds. The Commissioners unanimously approved the introduction of the proposed legislation and scheduled a public hearing for July 9.

Additionally, a work session was held to review the 2024 local legislative proposals. Danielle Mitchell presented suggested revisions, changes, and updated drafts for further consideration by the Commissioners.

Public Hearings and Approvals

Hotel Rental Tax Revisions: A public hearing was held for Proposed Bill 2024-11, which seeks to amend the existing hotel rental tax code to include short-term rental tax collection at the time of sale, effective July 1, 2025. The Commissioners unanimously adopted this amendment.

Mixed-Use Zoning Text Amendment: Another public hearing focused on Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) #22-174, which proposes revisions to the Mixed-Use (MX) Zone to allow commercial properties to incorporate housing for specific populations. The Commissioners voted to keep the record open for an additional 60 days to gather more input.

Budget Transfers and Amendments

Several budget transfer requests were approved, including:

ARPA MIH Equipment Purchase: Reallocation of funds for purchasing equipment in FY2024.
Property and Liability Insurance: Coverage for the Mattawoman Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Community Health Outreach Program: Support for the Charles County Health Department.
Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Programs: Funding to cover overruns and anticipated expenses through June.
County Administrator's Office Salaries: Addressing overruns in full-time salary accounts.
Recreation Sports Enterprise Fund: A $70,000 increase due to higher participation in programs.
Board of Education Budget Transfer: An intercategory transfer of $11.6 million.
Sheriff and Fraternal Order of Police MOU: Approval of a memorandum of understanding.
Pension Plan Changes: Moving Animal Control/Field Services Division and Health and Safety Officer position to the Public Safety section.
Juneteenth Flag and Colored Lights: Approval to fly the Juneteenth flag and use colored lights on county buildings.
Commissioners' 2025 Session Calendar: Approval of the calendar for the upcoming year.