Talbot County, Maryland

05/27/2026

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The Talbot County Council held their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 5 p.m.; Council Member Keasha Haythe was absent.

Introduction of Legislation

Council introduced legislation to amend Chapter 190 of the Talbot County Code regarding Reserved Land Agreements and Reservation of Development Rights Agreements. The proposed bill would allow for the partial or complete release of such agreements when a parcel is subject to an option contract with the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF), subject to certain conditions.

The legislation was introduced by Council members Callahan, Mielke and Stepp as Bill No. 1627. A public hearing on Bill No. 1627 will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.

FY2027 Budget and Appropriation Ordinance Adopted

Council amended the FY2027 Budget and Appropriation Ordinance and unanimously approved Bill No. 1625, as amended.

The adopted budget includes a total General Fund budget of $159.1 million and funds County operations, public safety, education, infrastructure, capital improvement projects, emergency services, public works, and community programs for Fiscal Year 2027.

The budget also includes funding for school operations and capital projects, road and facility improvements, sanitary district infrastructure projects, Easton Airport capital projects, recreation facilities, and opioid restitution initiatives.

Council members thanked County staff, department heads, and the Finance Department for their extensive work throughout the budget process.

For more information on the budget, visit: FY2027 Budget | Engage Talbot County

County Manager’s Report

• Board and Committee Appointments: The Council unanimously approved appointments to the following boards and committees:
  • Airport Board: Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Hugh Grunden to the Airport Board.
  • Commission on Aging: Council unanimously approved the appointment of Marion Donahue to the Commission on Aging.
  • Golf Board: Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Benny Mangor to the Golf Board.
• Easton Airport – Aviation Consulting Services: Council unanimously approved the recommendation from Easton Airport to award Bid No. 26-06 for aviation consulting services for Easton/Newnam Field Airport (ESN) to AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for the next five (5) years. The consulting services will support airport operations, planning, compliance, and future capital improvement projects.  AECOM Technical Services, Inc. currently provides aviation consulting services to Easton Airport.
• Technical Services – Computer and Server Upgrades: Council unanimously approved a request from the Department of Technical Services to utilize a National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA) contract to procure Dell computers, laptops, servers, monitors, and accessories in the amount of $358,119.68. The request will fund lifecycle replacement of equipment that is at, or beyond, five years of use to maintain secure and reliable County technology infrastructure and address ongoing uncertainty in technology supply chains.
• Technical Services – Network Infrastructure Equipment: Council unanimously approved a request from the Department of Technical Services to procure network infrastructure devices from ePlus Technology, Inc. in the amount of $132,520.59 utilizing Maryland State Contract #MD-Hardware (BPO-060B2490022). The request will fund Countywide network upgrades and replacement of unsupported aging network infrastructure in County facilities.
• Opioid Restitution Funds – Local Abatement Plan: Council unanimously approved the Local Drug and Alcohol Coordinating Committee’s request for concurrence with a new five-year Local Abatement Plan (2026–2031) governing the use of opioid restitution funds. The plan was developed in response to funding received through the National Opioid Settlements and outlines priorities for prevention, treatment, recovery support, and community outreach initiatives before submission to the State of Maryland.
• Oyster Recovery Pilot Project: Council unanimously approved a request from the Department of Public Works to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement with Ferry Cove Shellfish, Inc. for an Oyster Recovery Pilot Project. The FY2026 Budget included $125,000 to support the pilot program, which will involve growing oysters through a pre-purchase of oyster nutrient credits for the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from local waterways. The project supports the Talbot Watermen’s Association, local oyster producers, environmental restoration efforts, and future nutrient credit generation that may be used or sold through the State nutrient exchange program.
• Extension of Financial Auditing Services Agreement: Council unanimously approved a request from the Finance Department to extend the County’s agreement with SB & Company, LLC for financial auditing services for an additional three-year period covering Fiscal Years 2026, 2027, and 2028. The agreement includes proposed fees of $51,000 for FY2026, $52,000 for FY2027, and $53,000 for FY2028. County staff noted that SB & Company, LLC has provided auditing services since FY2018 and was originally selected through a competitive procurement process.

Next Meeting

The Talbot County Council will hold their next regular meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room, South Wing, Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street in Easton.  The Council will be holding a work session beginning at 2:30 p.m. with the Senior Citizens Task Force. Both meetings are open to the public.

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