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Worcester County · County Commissioners · 2026-04-21
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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The Worcester County Commissioners spent April 21 mostly on procurement and utility finance. In a single consent-agenda motion they approved nine items, including solid waste equipment, a refuse collection contract, a propane contract, design work for the Edgewater Acres pump station replacement, a rezoning hearing date, adoption of the county's Local Road Safety Plan, and a decision not to proceed with a public hearing on the proposed Gum Point Road speed hump pilot. Separately, they approved two large purchases: $1,414,994.02 in water and wastewater chemicals and a $1,870,995 HVAC replacement at the recreation center.
The commissioners also approved the Berlin Intermediate School feasibility study for submission to the state Interagency on School Construction, and then voted 6-1 to reaffirm that county funding for the project is contingent on the county procurement officer being part of all future project discussions. Two finance items followed: a reduction in the Ocean Pines Sanitary Service Area debt service fee from $36 to $18 for most customers starting in FY27, and a shift in the FY27 OPEB allocation from 20/80 to 10/90 in favor of the Board of Education. The board then moved into a work session on FY27 budget requests.
The commissioners met in closed session at 9:00 a.m. to discuss legal and personnel matters and to perform administrative functions, adjourning that session at 10:03 a.m. Commissioner Elder announced the topics afterward in open session: a personnel update, the promotion of Grounds Worker II Zamar Collins to grounds crew foreman, the hiring of Conner Patton as a project engineer, legal advice from counsel, and discussion of potential board appointments.
In open session, the commissioners approved the April 7 minutes, presented the National Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation to representatives of the Worcester County Child Advocacy Center, DSS, and Life Crisis, and commended Stephen Decatur High School senior Trey Rill for serving as Worcester County's page to the 2026 Maryland General Assembly.
During public comment, Gum Point Road residents Laura and Dennis Parker urged the commissioners to proceed with a pilot speed hump program on their road. Ms. Parker submitted a petition and said 90% of impacted neighbors signed in support of traffic calming, with 27 signers specifically backing the pilot. Mr. Parker described the road as a racetrack and said residents of a nearby gated community cut through the neighborhood without bearing the same burden. The consent agenda approved later in the meeting included an item agreeing not to move forward with the public hearing on the proposed Gum Point Road Speed Hump Update, which the minutes attribute to overwhelming public opposition to the project.
The consent agenda, approved unanimously on a motion by Commissioner Bertino, covered items 2 through 10: a fire and security alarm system for Solid Waste from Absolute Security for $26,855.95; a three-yard compactor for the Berlin Homeowners Convenience Center from Mid-Atlantic Waste Systems for $59,380.90; a two-year refuse collection contract with Republic at $30,053.16 annually; a five-year propane gas contract with Sharp Energy; a $98,221 contract with Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP to develop the Edgewater Acres pump station replacement, including a 5% contingency; combining the Worcester County Drug and Alcohol Council with the Worcester County Mental Health Advisory Committee; scheduling a public hearing on Rezoning Case 444, a request to rezone roughly 0.78 acre in Snow Hill from A-1 Agricultural to C-2 General Commercial; the Gum Point Road item; and adoption of the Worcester County Local Road Safety Plan.
At the request of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Annette Wallace, the commissioners unanimously approved the Berlin Intermediate School feasibility study for submission to the Interagency on School Construction for final review and approval. On a follow-up motion by Commissioner Bertino, they voted 6-1, with Commissioner Mitrecic opposed, to reaffirm that county funding is contingent on County Procurement Officer Ed Welch being involved in all future BIS project discussions.
OCDC Executive Director Zachary Bankert and Board President Joe Wilson updated the commissioners on the organization's revitalization work. Public Works Director Dallas Baker's request to purchase water and wastewater chemicals from various vendors totaling $1,414,994.02 was approved unanimously. On Mr. Welch's request, the commissioners unanimously awarded the recreation center HVAC replacement to Insite Build for $1,870,995; Commissioner Abbott supported adding local business and subcontractor preference to bid requirements, and Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said staff would bring draft policy language back at a future meeting.
Two finance items closed the regular session. Based on findings from Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Candace Savage, the commissioners unanimously agreed to cut the Ocean Pines Sanitary Service Area debt service fee from $36 to $18 for most customers beginning in FY27. They then reviewed a memo on the FY25 OPEB actuarial valuation and unanimously agreed to shift the FY27 OPEB allocation from 20/80 to 10/90, directing more support to the Board of Education. The commissioners answered press questions and then adjourned to a work session on FY27 budget requests.
The only recorded public comment of the meeting came from Gum Point Road residents Laura and Dennis Parker, who asked the commissioners to move ahead with a pilot speed hump program. Ms. Parker submitted a petition and said 90% of impacted neighbors signed in support of traffic calming, with 27 signers backing the pilot specifically; she argued the program should at least be tested. Mr. Parker called the road a racetrack and said he had found local representatives unresponsive. Later in the same meeting, the commissioners adopted a consent agenda that included agreeing not to move forward with the public hearing on the speed hump update, which the minutes describe as due to overwhelming public opposition to the project.
The feasibility study itself passed unanimously, but the commissioners then took a second, separate vote tying county funding to the county procurement officer's participation in all future BIS project discussions. That motion carried 6-1, with Commissioner Mitrecic — who had made the motion to approve the feasibility study — voting against it. The minutes do not record the reasoning offered on either side.
After the recreation center HVAC award to Insite Build, Commissioner Abbott said she supported adding local business and subcontractor preference to county bid requirements. Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said staff would prepare draft policy language for the commissioners to consider at a future meeting.
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Candace Savage's memo reported that the FY25 actuarial valuation showed a $6.5 million liability reduction for county government, leaving a $29 million net OPEB asset and a 148.89% funding level. The Board of Education's liability fell by $7.3 million to $88 million, with funding at 41.15%. On that basis, staff recommended and the commissioners approved moving the FY27 allocation from 20/80 to 10/90 to direct more support to the school system's remaining liability.
The commissioners met in closed session from 9:00 a.m. to 10:03 a.m. under GP 3-305(b)(1) and (7) and GP 3-104. Actions announced afterward included a personnel update, promoting Grounds Worker II Zamar Collins to grounds crew foreman, hiring Conner Patton as a project engineer, receiving legal advice, and discussing potential board appointments.
Approved unanimously on a motion by Commissioner Bertino. The package included a Solid Waste fire and security alarm system from Absolute Security ($26,855.95), a three-yard compactor for the Berlin HOCC from Mid-Atlantic Waste Systems ($59,380.90), a two-year Republic refuse collection contract ($30,053.16 annually), a five-year Sharp Energy propane contract, and a $98,221 contract with Whitman, Requardt & Associates for the Edgewater Acres pump station replacement design including a 5% contingency. It also combined the Drug and Alcohol Council with the Mental Health Advisory Committee, scheduled a public hearing on Rezoning Case 444, declined to move forward with the Gum Point Road speed hump hearing, and adopted the Local Road Safety Plan.
At Superintendent Dr. Annette Wallace's request, the commissioners unanimously approved the feasibility study for submission to the Interagency on School Construction for final review and approval. On a separate motion by Commissioner Bertino, they voted 6-1, with Commissioner Mitrecic opposed, to reaffirm that county funding is contingent on County Procurement Officer Ed Welch being involved in all future BIS project discussions.
At Public Works Director Dallas Baker's request, the commissioners unanimously approved purchasing water and wastewater chemicals from various vendors for a total of $1,414,994.02.
On Procurement Officer Ed Welch's request and a motion by Commissioner Abbott, the commissioners unanimously awarded the recreation center HVAC replacement to Insite Build for $1,870,995. Commissioner Abbott supported adding local business and subcontractor preference to bid requirements, and CAO Weston Young said staff would bring draft policy language to a future meeting.
Based on findings presented by Deputy CAO Candace Savage, the commissioners unanimously agreed to reduce the debt service fee within the Ocean Pines Sanitary Service Area from $36 to $18 for most customers beginning in FY27.
A memo from Ms. Savage reported the FY25 actuarial valuation showed a $6.5 million liability reduction for county government, a $29 million net OPEB asset, and a 148.89% funding level, while the Board of Education's liability fell $7.3 million to $88 million at 41.15% funding. On staff's recommendation and a motion by Commissioner Mitrecic, the commissioners unanimously shifted the FY27 OPEB allocation from 20/80 to 10/90 toward the Board of Education.
Laura and Dennis Parker of Gum Point Road urged the commissioners to proceed with the pilot speed hump program, citing ongoing speeding and safety concerns. Ms. Parker submitted a petition and said 90% of impacted neighbors supported traffic calming, with 27 signers backing the pilot; Mr. Parker described the road as a racetrack and said cut-through traffic came from a nearby gated community. The consent agenda approved later in the meeting included agreeing not to move forward with the public hearing on the proposal.
OCDC Executive Director Zachary Bankert and Board President Joe Wilson updated the commissioners on the organization's revitalization efforts. The minutes do not detail the content of the presentation or record any action taken.
The commissioners presented the National Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation to representatives from the Worcester County Child Advocacy Center, DSS, and Life Crisis. They also commended Stephen Decatur High School senior Trey Rill for serving as Worcester County's page to the 2026 Maryland General Assembly.
After the regular session, the commissioners adjourned to a work session to review FY27 budget requests. The minutes do not record the content of that session.
budget procurement education public works traffic safety water and sewer land use public health
Based on the official minutes of the April 21, 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.