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Worcester County · County Commissioners · 2026-05-19
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 most of this meeting awarding construction contracts and moving money, approving more than $2.7 million in capital and equipment work in a single sitting: the George Island Landing project, the Berlin Homeowner Convenience Center improvements, a Central Landfill pump station upgrade, and rehabilitation of the Glenn Riddle water tower. They also cleared a 13-item consent agenda covering grants, equipment repairs, camera work, and a master planning contract for the Northern Worcester Athletic Complex.
Two items pointed toward larger pending questions. Staff told the commissioners that refunding water and wastewater customers billed for multiple Equivalent Dwelling Units under the FY26 fee structure could total roughly $462,000 across about 142 customers, in service areas already running deficits or leaning on the General Fund, and the commissioners separately authorized an RFP for a water and wastewater rate study. The commissioners also took their first formal step on updated Critical Area Maps, referring them to the Planning Commission before a public hearing. The meeting adjourned into a budget work session.
The commissioners met in closed session beginning at 9:00 a.m. to discuss legal and personnel matters and to perform administrative functions, adjourning the closed session at 9:43 a.m. Topics announced in open session included a personnel update, requests to hire a Parks Worker, Recreation Program Manager, Water and Wastewater Plant Operator Trainee, Grounds Worker, and Building Administrator, legal advice from counsel, and discussion of potential board appointments.
In open session the commissioners approved the May 5 minutes, commended Derek Jarmon, Sr. on his retirement after 39 years with the Water and Wastewater Division of Public Works, and proclaimed May 17–23, 2026 as Public Works Week. During public comment, Kathy Kater told the commissioners it is vitally important to fund the requested FY27 Board of Education budget in its entirety.
On a motion by Commissioner Abbott, the commissioners unanimously approved consent agenda items 2–14. Those included a $90,375 BJA Comprehensive Opioid Stimulant and Substance grant and a $75,357 FY27 Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network/Overdose and Drug Awareness Coordinator grant for the Sheriff's Office; scheduling a second public hearing before the CDBG CVC2 grant agreement expires; out-of-state training travel for two Emergency Services employees; certification of the FY27 Tax Ditch Roll; a $36,419.49 change order expanding the countywide camera replacement project to Sunset Marina, Government Center additions, and Public Landing; $82,558.03 in Solid Waste excavator repairs with a $10,000 contingency; a three-year, $34,215 housing rehabilitation inspector contract with Authority Inspections, LLC; a Securus Technologies master service agreement for incarcerated individual communications at the jail; an amendment to the Snow Hill Arts and Entertainment District resolution; a $21,600 Davis Bowen & Friedel proposal for Northern Worcester Athletic Complex master planning; and a resolution naming private lanes in the Riverview Mobile Home Park in Bishopville.
At the request of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Annett Wallace, the commissioners unanimously authorized the Board of Education to reallocate $440,989.25 left over from the Pocomoke Elementary School roof replacement to the school's rooftop unit replacement project. Development Review and Permitting Director Jennifer Keener then presented the Town of Snow Hill's request to annex about 2.494 acres at U.S. Rt. 13 and MD Rt. 366 — the proposed site of a future WaWa — and said the proposed B-2 zoning is consistent with surrounding zoning and state sustainable growth principles. The commissioners unanimously concurred with the rezoning upon annexation.
The bid awards followed: Bay Coastal Contracting, LLC for the George Island Landing project at $577,714; AJT Homes, LLC for the Berlin Homeowner Convenience Center improvements at $496,750, with EA Engineering receiving $47,916 for construction administration and part-time inspection; TK Construction, Inc. for the Central Landfill pump station upgrade at $971,000; and Tank and Tower Restoration, LLC for the Glenn Riddle water tower rehabilitation at $613,000. Emergency Services Director Chris Shaffer also received approval for a $28,951 over-expenditure for additional mobile radios not included in the FY26 project budget.
The commissioners authorized an RFP for a water and wastewater rate study, heard follow-up information on potential EDU refunds, approved a special use request from Brothers Pyro Fireworks for Isle of Wight Park on June 5, 2026, and referred updated Critical Area Maps to the Planning Commission for recommendations ahead of a commissioners' public hearing. After taking press questions, they adjourned to a budget work session.
Commissioner Mitrecic asked for a status update on the next landfill cell. Public Works Director Dallas Baker said the design contract has been awarded, a well driller is onsite, the project requires a year of monitoring, and design is roughly 40–50% complete with completion anticipated in about a year and a half. Mitrecic raised concerns that the current cell is nearing capacity; Baker said earlier projections had the current cell filling by March 2028, a timeline since extended to August 2028, and that the county remains in good shape to have Cell 6 operational first.
Enterprise Fund Controller Quinn Dittrich returned with information the commissioners had requested at their April 14, 2026 meeting about refunding customers with multiple Equivalent Dwelling Units affected by the FY26 usage fee structure. Dittrich said refunds or credits would reduce revenues and fund balances in the affected service areas, all of which are either projected to run a deficit in the proposed FY27 budget or are already heavily supported by the General Fund. Current estimates put the exposure at about 142 customers across five service areas and roughly $462,000 total, subject to change pending completion of FY26 billing. The minutes record no vote on the refund question at this meeting.
Jennifer Keener told the commissioners the 2.494-acre parcel at the southeasterly intersection of U.S. Rt. 13 and MD Rt. 366, owned by Wayne T. Brittingham, Sr. and Flora S. Brittingham, is the proposed site of a future WaWa. She said the requested B-2 zoning is consistent with existing area zoning and state sustainable growth principles and that the annexation is a logical progression of the growth area meeting relevant Maryland legal standards. The commissioners concurred unanimously.
Kathy Kater used the public comment period to urge the commissioners to fund the requested FY27 Board of Education budget in its entirety. The minutes record no other public speakers. The commissioners adjourned the meeting to a budget work session.
The commissioners voted unanimously to meet in closed session at 9:00 a.m. under GP §3-305(b)(1) and (7) and to perform administrative functions under GP §3-104, adjourning at 9:43 a.m. Announced topics included a personnel update; requests to hire a Parks Worker, Recreation Program Manager, Water and Wastewater Plant Operator Trainee, Grounds Worker, and Building Administrator; legal advice from counsel; and discussion of potential board appointments.
The commissioners presented a years-of-service commendation to Derek Jarmon, Sr., retiring after 39 years with the Water and Wastewater Division of Public Works. They also proclaimed May 17–23, 2026 as Public Works Week in Worcester County, citing the division's role in maintaining county infrastructure, facilities, and essential services.
Kathy Kater told the commissioners it is vitally important to fund the requested FY27 Board of Education budget in its entirety. The minutes record no other speakers, and Commissioner Elder closed the floor.
Approved unanimously on a motion by Commissioner Abbott. The package included a $90,375 BJA opioid and substance grant and a $75,357 MCIN/Overdose and Drug Awareness Coordinator grant for the Sheriff's Office; a second CDBG CVC2 public hearing; out-of-state Incident Response and Management training travel for two Emergency Services employees; the FY27 Tax Ditch Roll; a $36,419.49 camera-replacement change order for Sunset Marina, Government Center additions, and Public Landing; $82,558.03 in Solid Waste excavator repairs with a $10,000 contingency; a three-year $34,215 housing rehabilitation inspector contract with Authority Inspections, LLC; a Securus Technologies master service agreement for jail communications; an amendment to the Snow Hill Arts and Entertainment District resolution; $21,600 to Davis Bowen & Friedel for Northern Worcester Athletic Complex master planning; and a resolution naming private lanes in the Riverview Mobile Home Park in Bishopville.
At the request of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Annett Wallace, the commissioners unanimously authorized the Board of Education to reallocate $440,989.25 remaining from the Pocomoke Elementary School roof replacement project to the school's rooftop unit replacement project.
Development Review and Permitting Director Jennifer Keener presented the Town of Snow Hill's request to annex about 2.494 acres at the southeasterly intersection of U.S. Rt. 13 and MD Rt. 366, owned by Wayne T. Brittingham, Sr. and Flora S. Brittingham and identified on Tax Map 84 as Parcel 168. Keener said the proposed B-2 zoning is consistent with existing area zoning and state sustainable growth principles. The commissioners unanimously concurred with the rezoning upon annexation.
At the request of Emergency Services Director Chris Shaffer, the commissioners unanimously approved a $28,951 over-expenditure to cover additional mobile radios across various departments that were not included in the FY26 project budget.
On a request from Procurement Officer Ed Welch, the commissioners unanimously awarded the best bid for the George Island Landing project to Bay Coastal Contracting, LLC for $577,714.
The commissioners unanimously awarded the best bid for improvements at the Berlin Homeowner Convenience Center to AJT Homes, LLC for $496,750, and awarded construction administration and part-time inspection services to EA Engineering for $47,916.
The commissioners unanimously awarded the best bid for the Central Landfill pump station upgrade to TK Construction, Inc. for $971,000. Separately, Commissioner Mitrecic asked about the next landfill cell; Public Works Director Dallas Baker said design is 40–50% complete and that Cell 6 should be operational before the current cell reaches capacity, now projected for August 2028.
At the request of Public Works Director Dallas Baker, the commissioners unanimously awarded the best bid for the Glenn Riddle water tower rehabilitation project to Tank and Tower Restoration, LLC for $613,000.
The commissioners unanimously approved issuing a request for proposals for professional services to prepare a rate study of the county's water and wastewater service areas.
Enterprise Fund Controller Quinn Dittrich provided follow-up information requested at the April 14, 2026 meeting on refunding customers with multiple Equivalent Dwelling Units affected by the FY26 usage fee structure. He said refunds or credits would reduce revenues and fund balances in affected service areas, all of which are projected to run deficits in the proposed FY27 budget or are already heavily supported by the General Fund. Estimates put the total at roughly $462,000 for about 142 customers across five service areas, subject to change pending completion of FY26 billing. No vote is recorded.
At the request of Recreation and Parks Director Kelly Rados, the commissioners unanimously approved a request from Brothers Pyro Fireworks for special use of Isle of Wight Park on June 5, 2026.
At the request of Environmental Programs Director Bob Mitchell, the commissioners unanimously agreed to refer the updated Critical Area Maps to the Planning Commission for recommendations before holding their own public hearing.
county administration capital projects water and wastewater solid waste budget land use public works education
Based on the official minutes of the May 19, 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.