← Back to Worcester County meetings
Worcester County · County Commissioners · 2026-05-05
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.
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
The Worcester County Commissioners spent May 5 moving through a long list of contracts, grants and budget over-expenditures, then turned the evening over to residents for the FY27 budget public hearing. The day's largest single action was a $1,410,143.20 award to Alertus Technologies to upgrade the county's outdoor warning siren system; the day's most pointed policy decision was the commissioners' unanimous refusal to draft an ordinance authorizing speed cameras in county school zones, even after a speed study found 94.4% of drivers near Ocean City Elementary exceeding the limit.
At the 6:00 p.m. hearing, Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young presented the advertised FY27 General Fund request — $299,118,027 in revenues against $302,074,374 in requested spending — while noting that updates since March now project an approximately $1.3 million surplus. More than two dozen residents spoke, with the largest bloc urging full funding of the Board of Education request and the Sheriff's Office budget; others raised wastewater rates, a University of Maryland Extension master gardener position, and nonprofit grants.
The commissioners met in closed session at 9:00 a.m. under GP §3-305(b)(1) and (7) and GP §3-104 to discuss legal and personnel matters, adjourning at 9:57 a.m. Reconvening in open session, Commissioner Elder announced the topics covered, which included a personnel update, hiring Seth Place as deputy finance officer in the Treasurer's Office, legal advice from counsel, and discussion of potential board appointments. The April 21 open and closed minutes were approved. No one spoke during the morning public comment period.
The board presented a proclamation recognizing May 3-9, 2026 as National Travel and Tourism Week to Tourism and Economic Development Director Melanie Pursel and county tourism partners, and a proclamation recognizing May as Foster Care Month to Department of Social Services representatives. In a related item, the commissioners commended Seth Place and Ryan Whittington as the 2026 Foster Parents of the Year.
On a motion by Commissioner Bertino, the commissioners unanimously approved consent agenda items 2-4 and 6-10, covering an FY27 Sex Offender and Compliance Enforcement Grant of $7,827; a $171,507 Local Government Energy Modernization Program grant for energy-efficiency work at county facilities; out-of-state fire marshal training; an RFP for environmental monitoring consulting at the Central Landfill and three closed landfills; a $31,943.72 fuel dispenser replacement bid to Delmarva Petroleum Service; $2,525.60 in salary and $604.14 in benefits to temporarily convert an Environmental Services intern to full-time for water sampling during a staff medical leave; a $16,200 extra work order on the Riddle Farm bypass force main project; and Lewis Road Bond Resolutions authorizing $618,000 in USDA funding for a sewer extension.
Separate unanimous votes followed: a $5,000 over-expenditure requested by Public Works Director Dallas Baker to cover electricity ($3,500) and propane ($1,500) through the rest of the fiscal year; the $1,410,143.20 outdoor warning siren upgrade award to Alertus Technologies, LLC, presented by Procurement Officer Ed Welch; a $622,646 contract to Murtech, Inc. to replace the Tanhouse Creek Bridge; and a $43,016.93 over-expenditure in the Roads Maintenance Materials Blacktop for Overlay account, offset by $44,578 in unspent Road Maintenance Contractual Services funds.
Mr. Baker then presented seven days of speed data from Center Drive near Ocean City Elementary School — 11,693 vehicle passages, 94.4% above the 30 mph limit, an 85th percentile speed of 42 mph — and asked whether the commissioners wanted an ordinance authorizing automated speed enforcement in county school zones. The minutes record that the commissioners expressed concern about speeding but favored increased Sheriff's Office enforcement over speed cameras, which they described as having questionable success rates. On a motion by Commissioner Mitrecic, they unanimously denied the proposal to develop the ordinance.
After reviewing board appointments, the commissioners unanimously appointed Jenifer Ketner to the Water and Sewer Advisory Council for the Newark Service Area on a nomination by Commissioner Abbott. Finance Officer Ondrea Starzhevskiy then reviewed the proposed FY26 Enterprise Funds Budget Amendment at a public hearing; no one spoke, and the commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution approving it. Commissioner Bertino asked staff to prepare FY27 revenue-reduction estimates and reserve balances for property tax rate cuts of one, two, and three cents.
At 6:00 p.m., Mr. Young presented the FY27 requested operating budgets as advertised. He noted several post-March developments: a March 30 State Department of Assessments and Taxation report showing an $884,000 increase in projected property tax revenue, a roughly $3.2 million reduction in required core funding for the Health Department, and reduced General Fund support for the Water and Wastewater service areas due to additional EDU sales and lower OPEB allocations — changes that together now project an approximately $1.3 million surplus. Because of newspaper advertising deadlines, the hearing itself was based on the March 17 figures. Public comment followed on the Extension budget, nonprofit grants, general government, public safety, the Board of Education, and the enterprise funds.
Public Works Director Dallas Baker brought the commissioners data from a seven-day study on Center Drive near Ocean City Elementary School: 11,693 vehicle passages, with 94.4% exceeding the posted 30 mph limit and an 85th percentile speed of 42 mph. He asked whether the board wanted staff to develop an ordinance authorizing automated speed enforcement in county school zones. The minutes record that the commissioners expressed concern about speeding but preferred increased Sheriff's Office enforcement to cameras, which they viewed as having questionable success rates. The motion to deny, made by Commissioner Mitrecic, passed unanimously.
Mr. Young told the evening hearing that the advertised budget — $299,118,027 in revenue against $302,074,374 in requested spending, a $2,956,346 shortfall — no longer reflected the county's current position. He cited an $884,000 increase in projected property tax revenue from the state's March 30 assessment report, a roughly $3.2 million reduction in required Health Department core funding, and lower General Fund support needed for the water and wastewater service areas. With personnel and miscellaneous adjustments, the county now projects an approximately $1.3 million surplus. He said the details would be worked through at the May 12 budget work session.
Before the evening hearing, Commissioner Bertino asked staff for estimated FY27 revenue reductions and reserve balances under one-, two-, and three-cent property tax rate cuts. A footnote to the minutes records the worksheet figures: $2.5 million for one cent, $4.9 million for two cents, and $7.4 million for three cents, alongside an available fund balance reserve of $41.1 million (15%), budget stabilization of $15.1 million, and unassigned funds of $1.7 million.
The largest share of public comment urged full funding of the requested Board of Education budget. Dr. Annette Wallace said 86% of the BOE budget funds salaries for teachers, support staff and bus contractors, and that the request includes raising starting teacher salaries to $60,000 to meet state mandates. WCTA president Beth Shockley Lynch pointed to the county's low starting salaries relative to neighboring counties and to Blueprint for Maryland's Future requirements. Teachers, parents, and Cedar Chapel Special School supporters spoke in support; Katherin Colbertson and Mary Hathaway both said a recent fraud incident and isolated events should not be used to reduce school funding. On public safety, FOP Lodge #50 president Bryn Blackburn asked for full Sheriff's Office funding and advocated a $70,000 starting deputy salary, and deputy Shane Cannon described living paycheck to paycheck.
Several Berlin and Ocean City residents raised the enterprise funds. Barbara Connor questioned the size of the wastewater rate increase; Cindy Sansone raised rising utility bills and received clarification from staff on enterprise fund cost breakdowns. Laura Parker discussed mandatory sewer hookup costs, suggested exploring privatization and other self-sustaining measures, and urged the commissioners to eliminate General Fund subsidies to water and wastewater. MaryAnn Salabsky and Robin Vanderlip both called for long-term wastewater planning rather than short-term fixes.
The commissioners voted unanimously to meet in closed session at 9:00 a.m. under GP §3-305(b)(1) and (7) and GP §3-104, adjourning at 9:57 a.m. Topics included a personnel update, hiring Seth Place as deputy finance officer within the Treasurer's Office, legal advice from counsel, and discussion of potential board appointments. Commissioner Elder announced the topics upon reconvening in open session.
The commissioners recognized May 3-9, 2026 as National Travel and Tourism Week, presenting the proclamation to Tourism and Economic Development Director Melanie Pursel and county tourism partners, and recognized May as Foster Care Month with a proclamation to Department of Social Services representatives. They also commended Seth Place and Ryan Whittington as the 2026 Foster Parents of the Year.
On a motion by Commissioner Bertino, the commissioners unanimously approved a package including an FY27 Sex Offender and Compliance Enforcement Grant of $7,827; a $171,507 Local Government Energy Modernization Program grant for energy-efficiency projects at county facilities; out-of-state travel for a deputy fire marshal to fire investigation training in Tarpon Springs, Florida; an RFP for environmental monitoring consulting at the Central Landfill and three closed landfills; a $31,943.72 fuel dispenser replacement bid to Delmarva Petroleum Service; $2,525.60 in salary and $604.14 in benefits to temporarily make an Environmental Services intern full-time for water sampling; a $16,200 extra work order for the Riddle Farm bypass force main; and Lewis Road Bond Resolutions authorizing $618,000 in USDA funding for the sewer extension project.
At the request of Procurement Officer Ed Welch and on a motion by Commissioner Mitrecic, the commissioners unanimously awarded the lowest responsive bid to Alertus Technologies, LLC for $1,410,143.20 to upgrade the county's outdoor warning siren system. This was the largest single award of the meeting.
Public Works Director Dallas Baker presented a seven-day Center Drive speed study near Ocean City Elementary School showing 11,693 vehicle passages, 94.4% exceeding the 30 mph limit, and an 85th percentile speed of 42 mph, and asked whether the board wanted an ordinance authorizing speed cameras in county school zones. The minutes state the commissioners were concerned about speeding but favored increased Sheriff's Office enforcement over cameras, which they considered to have questionable success rates. On a motion by Commissioner Mitrecic, they unanimously denied developing the ordinance.
At Mr. Welch's request and on a motion by Commissioner Abbott, the commissioners unanimously awarded the contract to replace the Tanhouse Creek Bridge to Murtech, Inc. for $622,646.
On a motion by Commissioner Mitrecic, the commissioners unanimously approved a $43,016.93 over-expenditure in the Roads Maintenance Materials Blacktop for Overlay account for additional paving, including the potential addition of Harbor Road to the FY26 paving schedule and a change order for additional asphalt milling in the West Ocean City harbor area. The funding is offset by $44,578 in unspent Road Maintenance Contractual Services money.
At the request of Public Works Director Dallas Baker and on a motion by Commissioner Bertino, the commissioners unanimously approved a $5,000 over-expenditure to cover $3,500 in electricity and $1,500 in propane costs through the remainder of the fiscal year.
After reviewing various board appointments, the commissioners unanimously appointed Jenifer Ketner to the Water and Sewer Advisory Council for the Newark Service Area on a nomination by Commissioner Abbott.
Finance Officer Ondrea Starzhevskiy reviewed the projects and over-expenditures in the proposed amendment at a public hearing. No members of the public spoke. On a motion by Commissioner Bertino, the commissioners unanimously passed a resolution adopting the FY26 Enterprise Funds Budget Amendment.
Commissioner Bertino asked staff to provide estimated FY27 revenue reductions and reserve balances for property tax rate cuts of one, two, and three cents, plus available fund balance totals. A footnote records the worksheet figures distributed before the evening hearing: $2.5 million (one cent), $4.9 million (two cents), and $7.4 million (three cents) in lost revenue, against a $41.1 million (15%) fund balance reserve, $15.1 million in budget stabilization, and $1.7 million unassigned.
Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young presented the advertised FY27 General Fund request of $299,118,027 in revenues and $302,074,374 in expenditures — a $2,956,346 projected shortfall — but said post-March changes, including an $884,000 property tax revenue increase and a $3.2 million reduction in required Health Department core funding, now project an approximately $1.3 million surplus. He also reviewed the FY27 Solid Waste budget at $5,494,947 and the Water and Wastewater budget at $22,348,449. Work sessions are set for May 12 and May 19, with General Fund and tax rate adoption on June 2 and enterprise fund adoption on June 16.
More than two dozen residents spoke. The largest group urged full funding of the Board of Education request, including Dr. Annette Wallace on the $60,000 starting teacher salary and WCTA president Beth Shockley Lynch on competitiveness with neighboring counties; several speakers backed Cedar Chapel Special School and said a recent fraud incident should not be used to justify cuts. Law enforcement speakers, including FOP Lodge #50 president Bryn Blackburn, asked for full Sheriff's Office funding and a $70,000 starting deputy salary. Others requested a University of Maryland Extension master gardener coordinator position, a 2% increase for the Worcester County Developmental Center, grant help for Girdletree community center ADA bathroom and kitchen work, a senior tax discount, and long-term water and wastewater planning amid concerns about rising utility bills.
budget education public safety water and wastewater transportation county administration grants capital projects
Based on the official minutes of the May 5, 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.