Talbot County, Maryland

08/13/2026

Category: County Council

The Talbot County Council held their regular meeting on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.; Council President Chuck Callahan was absent.

Proclamations: National Health Center Week and Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

The Council issued proclamations recognizing National Health Center Week, August 2–8, 2026, and Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, August 2026, highlighting the importance of accessible health care, preventive services, and early intervention for Talbot County residents.

National Health Center Week recognizes the essential role community health centers play in providing comprehensive, accessible care and connecting individuals and families with needed services. The Council specifically recognized Choptank Community Health System, Talbot County’s only Federally Qualified Health Center, for its more than four decades of service across Maryland’s Mid-Shore region. Council members highlighted the organization’s work in expanding access to primary medical, dental, behavioral health, nutrition, women’s health, pediatric, and school-based services for approximately 35,000 patients across Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties.

The Council also proclaimed August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, emphasizing the importance of children’s vision care, early detection of vision problems, and regular eye examinations, as well as highlighting the need for practices that protect children from preventable eye injuries and support their overall health, learning, and development.

In conjunction with the proclamation, the Council presented Certificates of Recognition related to the November 22, 2025 Global Vision Clinic, at which 40 children were seen, 37 of whom received eyeglasses, and 3 received pediatric ophthalmology referrals—all at no cost to families—made possible through the extraordinary generosity and efforts of Dr. Zuleika Ghodsi, Dr. Whitney Fahrman, Dr. Brent Kline, Global Vision team members Kevin White, Jamie Morrell, Alix Lovell, and other dedicated volunteers, recognizing their contributions in providing vision services to the community.

Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund Update

Nancy Andrew, MSW, Director of the Talbot County Office of Community Partnerships, provided an update on the County’s inaugural funding round through the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF).

The CRRF provides funding to communities through revenues associated with Maryland’s adult-use cannabis program. Talbot County established a local grant process to direct available funding toward community-based initiatives and organizations serving County residents.

Andrew reviewed the inaugural funding round and the County’s distribution process. The awards represent the first local investments made through the program and provide additional resources to organizations working to address community needs and expand opportunities for Talbot County residents.

The inaugural round has provided the County with experience that will help inform future CRRF funding cycles as the program continues.

As part of this process, the Office of Community Partnerships will host a stakeholder gathering on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton. The discussion will focus on community conditions, needs, and approaches to help guide how CRRF funds are deployed locally. Lunch will be provided, and advance registration is requested.

A draft Distribution Plan will be available for public review by August 21, 2026, on the Talbot County website at talbotcountymd.gov/crrf. The Talbot County Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed Distribution Plan on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, during its meeting beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room, South Wing of the Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street in Easton. The hearing will provide an opportunity for public comment before the Council considers adoption of the plan.

Written comments will be accepted through 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2026, and may be submitted to Chuck F. Callahan, President, Talbot County Council, 11 North Washington Street, Easton, MD 21601, or publiccomment@talbotcountymd.gov. Additional information, including registration for the stakeholder gathering, the draft Distribution Plan, and the public hearing notice, will be available at talbotcountymd.gov/crrf.

Proposed 12-Month Moratorium on Data Centers

The Council introduced a numbered resolution proposing a temporary 12-month moratorium on the processing, review, and approval of applications, site plans, permits, and other authorizations for the location, construction, and/or operation of data centers in Talbot County.

The proposed moratorium  provides the County with time to consider and enact zoning requirements and other regulations governing data centers before potential projects proceed through the County’s development review process.

As introduced, the resolution states that the 12-month period is intended to provide sufficient time for the County to develop reasonable, thoughtful, and lawful requirements deemed necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

The proposed resolution will proceed through the County’s legislative review process before returning to the Council for final consideration.

Other Legislation

• Bill No. 1652 – Next-Generation 911 Addressing Standards: The Council held a public hearing on Bill No. 1652, which would amend Chapter 131 (Road Naming and Property Numbering) of the Talbot County Code to modernize the County’s addressing standards to be Next-Generation 911 compliant and clarify staff responsibilities in administering the provisions of Chapter 131. No action was taken following the public hearing. Bill No. 1652 is eligible for vote on August 25, 2026.
• Bill No. 1651 – Nonprofit Waiver Provisions: The Council unanimously approved Bill No. 1651, which amends Chapter 190 (Zoning, Subdivision, and Land Development) to authorize the Planning Director to grant a waiver from the requirements of §190-61.2.C for a bona fide nonprofit entity, subject to certain conditions, and amends the criteria for evaluating waiver applications.
• Proposed Short-Term Rental Text Amendment: Council Members Lynn Mielke and Pete Lesher voted in favor of submitting a proposed text amendment to §190-63 concerning short-term rental licenses and the Short-Term Rental Review Board to the Planning Commission for their review and recommendation. The proposal failed on a 2–2 vote.

County Manager’s Report

County Manager Clay Stamp presented several items for Council consideration.

• Board and Committee Appointments: County Manager Clay Stamp presented several recommendations for board and committee appointments:
  • Animal Control Board: Council unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Donna Nizolek.
  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee: Council unanimously approved the appointment of Steve Cohoon to represent the St. Michaels District.
  • Economic Development Commission: Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Dr. Michael Meier as the Town of St. Michaels representative.
  • Police Accountability Board: Council unanimously approved the reappointment of John Gilbert.
  • Senior Citizens Task Force: Council unanimously approved the appointment of Father James Nash.
  • Upper Shore Workforce Investment Board of Directors: Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Dr. James Bell and Terenda Thomas.
• Chesapeake College – Economic Development Center Improvements: Council unanimously approved a letter of intent for Chesapeake College for assistance with an HVAC and lighting replacement project at the College’s Economic Development Center. Talbot County’s contributions, anticipated in FY28, will total $145,243, with a total replacement cost of $2,665,000 to be divided among the five supporting counties.  The award is subject to approval by the state and other partners. 
• Chesapeake College – FY27 Revised Operating Budget: Council unanimously approved Chesapeake College’s revised FY27 Operating Budget. The revision reallocates funding within the College’s existing operating budget to provide a 3.5% salary increase for faculty, staff, and administrators. The total FY27 operating budget remains unchanged at $30,521,458.
• Roads Department – Work Truck: Council unanimously approved the purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD four-wheel-drive Double Cab work truck with an eight-foot Boss V-Plow from Hertrich Fleet Services, Inc. of Denton for $56,323, utilizing State of Maryland Contract BPO 00186600306. Funding for the purchase is included in the Roads Department’s FY27 Capital Budget.
• Roads Department – Mini-Excavator: Council unanimously approved the purchase of a new Caterpillar Model 305-07 ACB Excavator from Carter Machinery Company, Inc. utilizing a Sourcewell contract. The equipment, including three bucket attachments and a vibratory plate compactor, is priced at $102,909. After a $25,500 trade-in for the County’s smaller Caterpillar 303.5 mini-excavator, the total purchase price is $77,409.  Funding for the purchase is included in the Roads Department’s FY27 Capital Budget.
• Roads Department – Compact Wheel Loader: Council unanimously approved the purchase of a 2026 John Deere 324 P-Tier Compact Wheel Loader from Atlantic Tractor LLC for $132,872.65 utilizing a Sourcewell contract. The equipment will support snow and tree removal operations and allow the Roads Department to use existing and future attachments.  Funding for the purchase is included in the Roads Department’s FY27 Capital Budget.
• Talbot County Free Library – Easton Branch Carpeting: Council unanimously approved the replacement and improvement of carpeting at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton. The project in the amount of $87,292 will be completed by Value Carpet One of Salisbury utilizing a Sourcewell contract and includes Bates Moving & Storage Company, Inc. relocating books, shelving, furniture, and fixtures to facilitate the installation. Funding is included in the approved Facilities Maintenance FY27 Capital Budget.
• Bid No. 26-07 – Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan Update: Council unanimously approved the award of Bid No. 26-07 to the low bidder, Vision Planning and Consulting, in the amount of $243,600 for consulting and engineering services to update the Talbot County Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan.
• Bid No. 26-08 – Farming at the Talbot County Bio-Solids Facility: Council unanimously approved the award of Bid No. 26-08 to Chris Lee and Sons, Inc. for farming at the County’s Bio-Solids Facility property on Klondike Road in Easton. The agreement is based on an average price of $105 per acre, for an annual payment to the County of $9,859.50.

Next Meeting

The Talbot County Council’s next regular legislative meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room, South Wing, Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street, Easton. The meeting is open to the public.

council highlights meeting highlights health childrens eye care crrf data centers