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Worcester County · County Commissioners · 2026-02-17
Recap
This page was drafted automatically from the official meeting minutes and has not been reviewed by a human editor. Minutes are a condensed record of formal actions and may omit discussion or public comment that occurred in the room. The linked minutes, agenda, packet, and video are the record — not this summary.
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Worcester County's commissioners spent the morning on financial housekeeping and state legislative positions, then devoted the second half of the meeting to two land-use public hearings. The most consequential money items were a decision to reverse a $1,936,565.23 entry that had been carried as a liability since FY2013 and move the money into general surplus, and a decision to accept only $171,507 of a $1,940,000 state energy award after the State restricted the bulk of the money to renewable energy projects.
On land use, the commissioners unanimously approved the Racetrack Village Residential Planned Community floating zone for a 137-unit multi-family development on Racetrack Road, over one resident's traffic objections. A separate rezoning request in West Ocean City drew skepticism from two commissioners and was tabled so the applicant could go back to the Planning Commission and seek a less intensive commercial classification.
The commissioners met in closed session at 9:00 a.m. to discuss legal and personnel matters and to perform administrative functions, adjourning at 9:35 a.m. Actions announced afterward included hiring David Johnson as a heavy equipment operator in the Water and Wastewater Division, Alex Harmon as a vehicle and equipment mechanic III and Garet Lowman as a part-time temporary mechanic intern/apprentice in Fleet Management, and agreement on a 90-day email hiring review to fill communications specialist vacancies in Emergency Services.
In open session, the only public comment came from Jenny Mumford, who asked to present an affidavit and raised concerns about the integrity of local elections. Commissioner Elder reminded the public that comments are limited to agenda items, and Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said the State of Maryland, not the County, oversees the Board of Elections and urged her to contact the elections office.
The commissioners unanimously approved consent agenda items 1-8, which included a sole source waiver for the LMB to contract with Due East Partners for the Worcester County Community Plan at $60,000; scheduling a public hearing on expanding the Water and Sewer Planning Area for the Riddle Farm Sanitary Service Area; awarding the Ocean Pines Pump Station T wet well relining project to Pleasants Construction, Inc. for $67,205.28; awarding crushed aggregate for the Roads Division to H&K Materials for $49,702; declining an offer to purchase surplus State Highway Administration property; approving 2027 employee recognition events; signing a letter supporting the Bishopville Fire Department's application for Congressionally Directed Funds and House Committee Project Funding; and signing a Federal Aid Supplement Agreement for the Fleming Mill Bridge replacement. Separately, at the request of Public Works Director Dallas Baker, the commissioners approved purchase of a dump truck under the Mack Truck Sourcewell Contract for $223,065.
Mr. Young then brought forward two financial matters. The county's new auditing firm had identified a $1,936,565.23 balance recorded as a liability that does not meet the definition of a liability — unspent FY2013 county funding for the Health Department held in a "Due to Local Health Department" account and a separate special fund. The commissioners unanimously approved Option 3, reversing the original entry so the full amount falls into general surplus and is comingled with other surplus funds. On the energy award, Mr. Young said the County applied for roughly $2 million through the state L-GEM program and was awarded $1,940,000, but the State later advised that roughly $828,493 must go to renewable energy projects and only $171,507 could be used for energy efficiency. The commissioners voted to accept the $171,507 for energy efficiency only.
Legislative Analyst Charlene Sharpe sought authorization on State bill testimony. The commissioners authorized Commissioner Mitrecic to testify in support of SB 681/HB 914 expanding the Board of License Commissioners to five members, and approved staff recommendations to support four other bills and oppose three. They also appointed Mark Frostrom, Jr. to the Building Code of Appeals Board on a nomination by Commissioner Abbott, and agreed to ask the Eastern Shore Delegation to advocate with MDE on a Bay Restoration Fee exemption for the Ocean Pines service area.
After a recess, the commissioners held two public hearings. Rezoning Case No. 452 was tabled; the Racetrack Village RPC was approved unanimously. Commissioner Purnell closed by recognizing the passing of civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson. The commissioners answered questions from the press and adjourned to meet again on March 3, 2026.
Attorney Hugh Cropper, representing KASA Holdings, LLC, sought to rezone roughly 1.66 acres between MD Rt. 611 and Sinepuxent Road in West Ocean City from A-2 Agricultural to C-2 General Commercial, arguing a change in the character of the neighborhood. Development Review and Permitting Director Jennifer Keener said the Planning Commission had given a favorable recommendation and entered its Findings of Fact into the record; she told Commissioner Mitrecic that Ocean City has no objection as long as a navigation easement is placed on the property. Property owner Erin Finney of TR Group, Inc. said he employs seven people and bought the parcel three years ago to relocate his business, and surveyor Brian Dolinger of Vista Design supported the change. Commissioners Fiori and Bunting both said they did not see the site as a good commercial location, with Fiori initially moving to deny on the grounds that neighborhood change had been residential rather than commercial; after further discussion with Mr. Cropper, the commissioners instead tabled the case so he could return to the Planning Commission and amend the request to C-1.
Zoning Administrator Kristen Tremblay reviewed the application for the 137-unit RPC on the east side of Racetrack Road at Taylorville Lane and entered the Planning Commission's favorable Findings of Fact. Mr. Cropper said the R-3 property sits in an existing developed area, is designated S-1 in the Water and Sewer Plan within the Greater Ocean Pines Sanitary Service Area, fits the MD Rt. 589 Infrastructure Plan, and has drawn no concerns from the State Highway Administration. Carl Wilson of the Traffic Group said the existing road network and the new signal at MD Rt. 589 are adequate for the project, while resident Stephen Bacco opposed it, saying the area is overbuilt and traffic cannot handle the additional vehicles. Mr. Cropper confirmed to Commissioner Bertino that there will be no access between the development and Ocean Pines; Commissioner Mitrecic said the project is far better than what could otherwise have been built on the site, and Commissioner Fiori agreed.
Mr. Young explained that the County's new auditing firm flagged a $1,936,565.23 balance recorded as a liability that does not meet the definition of a liability. The money represents unspent FY2013 county funding for the Health Department that had been parked in a "Due to Local Health Department" liability account and held in a separate Local Health Department special fund. After discussion, the commissioners chose Option 3, reversing the original entry so the full amount falls into general surplus and is comingled with other surplus funds.
The County applied for roughly $2 million through the Maryland Local Government Energy Modernization program and was awarded $1,940,000 — but the State later told staff that about $828,493 had to be spent on renewable energy projects, leaving only $171,507 available for energy efficiency work. The commissioners accepted the energy efficiency portion only.
Public Works Director Dallas Baker said MDE denied the County's 2025 Bay Restoration Fee exemption request for the Ocean Pines service area because the plant's annual average nitrogen value came in at 3.6 mg/L. He attributed the overage to abnormally low, sustained temperatures in January and February 2025 that affected plant performance, and noted MDE has granted the exemption in similar situations before. The commissioners agreed to ask the Eastern Shore Delegation to press MDE for a cold weather exemption.
The commissioners met in closed session from 9:00 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. under GP 3-305(b)(1) and (7) and GP 3-104. Actions included hiring David Johnson as a heavy equipment operator in Water and Wastewater, Alex Harmon as a vehicle and equipment mechanic III and Garet Lowman as a part-time temporary mechanic intern/apprentice in Fleet Management, receiving legal advice, discussing potential board appointments, and agreeing to a 90-day email hiring review for communications specialist vacancies in Emergency Services.
Approved unanimously on a motion by Commissioner Bertino. The package included a sole source waiver for the LMB to contract with Due East Partners for the Worcester County Community Plan at $60,000, scheduling a Riddle Farm Sanitary Service Area water and sewer planning hearing, a $67,205.28 award to Pleasants Construction, Inc. for Ocean Pines Pump Station T wet well relining, a $49,702 crushed aggregate award to H&K Materials, declining a State Highway Administration surplus property offer, approving 2027 employee recognition events, a support letter for the Bishopville Fire Department's federal funding applications, and a Federal Aid Supplement Agreement for the Fleming Mill Bridge replacement.
At the request of Public Works Director Dallas Baker, the commissioners unanimously approved purchase of a dump truck under the Mack Truck Sourcewell Contract for $223,065. The motion was made by Commissioner Mitrecic.
The county's new auditing firm identified a $1,936,565.23 balance recorded as a liability that does not meet the definition of a liability — unspent FY2013 county funding for the Health Department held in a "Due to Local Health Department" account and a separate special fund. After discussion, the commissioners unanimously approved Option 3, reversing the original entry so the full amount falls into general surplus and is comingled with other surplus funds.
The County applied for roughly $2 million and was awarded $1,940,000, but the State later advised that about $828,493 must be used for renewable energy projects and only $171,507 for energy efficiency. On a motion by Commissioner Bertino, the commissioners unanimously agreed to accept $171,507 for energy efficiency funding only.
Legislative Analyst Charlene Sharpe sought direction on bills being heard over the following two weeks. The commissioners authorized Commissioner Mitrecic to testify in support of SB 681/HB 914, expanding the Board of License Commissioners to five members, and approved staff recommendations to support SB 270/HB 674 (PSC analysis of electricity generation costs and benefits), SB 846 (temporary to-go permit for special events), HB 988 (repealing parts of the Building Energy Performance Standards), and HB 1019 (propane powered school buses). They approved opposition to SB 719/HB 925 (sewage sludge land application restrictions), HB 778 (affirmative duty to evaluate vacant commercial and industrial land for housing), and HB 905/SB 547 (expanded subcontractor reporting to the Comptroller).
On a nomination by Commissioner Abbott, the commissioners unanimously appointed Mark Frostrom, Jr. to the Building Code of Appeals Board.
Public Works Director Dallas Baker said MDE denied the County's 2025 Bay Restoration Fee exemption for the Ocean Pines service area because the plant's annual average nitrogen value was 3.6 mg/L, which he attributed to abnormally low, sustained temperatures in January and February 2025. He noted MDE has granted the exemption in similar situations previously. The commissioners unanimously agreed to ask the Eastern Shore Delegation to advocate for a cold weather exemption.
Public hearing on rezoning approximately 1.66 acres on the westerly side of MD Rt. 611 and easterly side of Sinepuxent Road in West Ocean City from A-2 Agricultural to C-2 General Commercial. The Planning Commission had recommended favorably, and the applicant argued a change in the character of the neighborhood. Commissioners Fiori and Bunting said the site was not well suited to commercial use, and Fiori initially moved to deny; the commissioners instead unanimously tabled the matter on a motion by Commissioner Mitrecic so applicant Hugh Cropper could return to the Planning Commission and seek C-1 instead.
Public hearing on a request by MD Medical Owners III, LLC to establish an RPC floating zone for a proposed 137-unit multi-family residential development with a commercial component on the east side of Racetrack Road at Taylorville Lane. The Planning Commission recommended favorably. Resident Stephen Bacco opposed the project on traffic and overdevelopment grounds, while the applicant's traffic consultant said the road network and new MD Rt. 589 signal are adequate. The commissioners unanimously approved the RPC on a motion by Commissioner Bunting.
Jenny Mumford asked to present an affidavit and expressed concern about protecting the integrity of local elections. Commissioner Elder reminded the public that comments are limited to agenda items, and Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said the State of Maryland, not the County, oversees the Board of Elections and urged her to contact the elections office.
Commissioner Purnell recognized the passing of civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson for his work to make the United States a better place.
land use rezoning county administration budget state legislation energy water and wastewater appointments
Based on the official minutes of the February 17, 2026 Worcester County Commissioners meeting. Minutes are a condensed record of formal actions and may omit discussion or public comment that occurred in the room; the linked agenda, packet and video are provided for additional context.