Charter Board Scheduled to Meet on March 13 and 27
The Charter Board will meet on Thursday, March 13, 2014, and Thursday, March 27, 2014, at 6:30 p.m., at the County Government Building in the Government Building Conference Room, 200 Baltimore Street in La Plata.
The Charter Board will draft a charter for Charles County to change the present form of government. The Charter Board will draft a charter for submission to the Board of County Commissioners and then for a referendum election by the voters of Charles County. The proposed charter is intended to go before the voters for ratification at the 2014 Election. The Charter of Charles County is a document that will change the present Code Home Rule commissioner form of government to Charter government if approved by the voters. The proposed charter document defines the duties, power, rules, procedures, structure of local county government, and the rights of our voters/citizens.
For more information, contact Ms. Melody Weschler at 301-645-0555 or WeschleM(at)CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 866-269-9006.
March 24 Planning Commission Meeting Canceled
The Charles County Planning Commission meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, March 24, has been canceled.
Planning Commission meetings are generally held on the first and third Mondays of every month, unless otherwise noted. The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Monday, April 7 at 6 p.m., in the Commissioners’ meeting room at the Charles County Government Building (200 Baltimore Street, La Plata).
For more information, contact Ms. Theresa Pickeral, Clerk to the Planning Commission, at 301-645-0638 or PickerTh(at)CharlesCountyMD.gov.
Public Forum Scheduled for March 26
The Charles County Board of Commissioners would like to inform citizens that the next public forum will be held on Wednesday, March 26, at 7 p.m. in the Commissioners' Meeting Room at the Charles County Government Building (200 Baltimore Street, La Plata). Sign-in will begin at 6:30 p.m. outside the Commissioner Meeting Room. Public forums are open to the general public.
While offering a public forum is important to the Commissioners, it is also necessary to ensure that the Commissioners are allowed enough time to conduct other County business. Therefore, the following guidelines have been established for public forums:
-- Any person wishing to speak during the public forum segment must sign the sign-in sheet upon entering the room.
-- Individuals are free to speak about any topic affecting Charles County residents.
-- Comments should be concise and to the point and limited to three minutes. The actual time limit will be at the discretion of the Commissioner President based on the agenda for the evening and the time available.
-- Making a presentation using slide projectors or overhead projectors is not appropriate for public forum. Individuals with topics that require more time or who desire to make a more formal presentation than is allowed under these guidelines, contact the Clerk to the County Commissioners at 301-645-0550 for further information related to the Commissioner meeting agendas.
-- Engaging in active debate with the Board of Commissioners or audience members will not be allowed. All comments and questions must be directed to the Board.
-- Public forum is not to be used as a candidates' forum.
-- Remarks must be respectful and courteous, free of name-calling and personal attacks. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated. Comments presented in a dignified manner have more credibility.
-- Comments to the Board of Commissioners do not constitute formal complaints, are not considered requests for records under the Public Records Act, and do not require staff response unless directed to do so by the Board.
The Board of Commissioners appreciates the cooperation of citizens in honoring these guidelines, and looks forward to hearing from the public.
Dates and times for upcoming public forums will available on the Commissioners' published meeting agenda. Commissioner meeting agendas are available online at: http://www.CharlesCountyMD.gov.
For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 301-885-2779 or PressRoom(at)CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Free SLBE Seminar and Business Networking Gathering on April 24
The Charles County Commissioners enacted the Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) Program, which is intended to support the growth and vitality of Charles County’s small businesses by increasing their success when participating in Charles County Government contracts and other procurement. Small Charles County businesses that have services or commodities needed by Charles County Government are invited to attend a free SLBE seminar and business networking gathering on Thursday, April 24 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Charles County Government Building, (200 Baltimore Street, La Plata) in the County Commissioners Meeting Room. Come out for networking.
Reservations are required. RSVP by Friday, April 18 to attend the seminar by contacting Lucinia Mundy at MundyL(at)CharlesCountyMD.gov or 301-885-1334. To learn more about the SLBE Program visit http://www.CharlesCountyMD.gov and click on “Procurement Opportunities.”
Commissioners Celebrate Western County Family Medical Center Opening
On Monday, March 10, the Charles County Commissioners celebrated the opening of the Western County Medical Center (4375 Port Tobacco Rd., Nanjemoy) with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The Western County Medical Center provides primary medical care to residents in the area. The clinic provides sick visits, preventative health services, and sports physicals. For information and scheduling, call 301-246-4860.
In attendance were H. Russell Wright, Jr. (President, Maryland State Medical Society); Thomas “Mac” Middleton (Maryland Senator, District 28); Dianna E. Abney, M.D. (Health Officer, Charles County Department of Health); Commissioner Ken Robinson (District 1); Commissioner President Candice Quinn Kelly; Commissioner Debra M. Davis, Esq. (District 2); and Sue Kullen (Commissioner, Maryland Community Health Resource Commission).