News

Southern Maryland Newspapers reports:
All 4 commissioners attend economic development session
Friday, Aug. 27, 2010
By MEREDITH SOMERS
Staff writer
The Charles County commissioners met Tuesday with their newly appointed economic development executive board without giving advance notice of the meeting or opening it to the public.
When asked if the four commissioners’ attendance with no public notice violated the Maryland …

Southern Maryland Newspapers reports:
From transparency to business attraction, candidates weigh in
Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010
By MEREDITH SOMERS
Staff writer
With each of the candidates for the Charles County commissioners’ president seat promising positive change, how each plans to do so is highlighting differences in each platform.
Not surprisingly, the issues that have riled up residents in newspaper headlines — …

Southern Maryland Newspapers reports:
County affordable housing scheme panned
Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010
By MEREDITH SOMERS
Staff writer
Issues of motivation and accountability have taken the forefront in the continuing conflict between Charles County leaders and Cliffton on the Potomac residents upset at the affordable housing development planned for the Newburg area.
“The county wants to meet with the community but …

An editorial from Southern Maryland Newspapers published Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010:
Open government
The Charles County commissioners regularly meet in closed sessions. The Maryland Open Meetings Act allows them to do this when they are, for example, discussing personnel issues, the acquisition of property and the investment of public funds or consulting with counsel on legal issues …

Southern Maryland Newspapers reports:
Commissioners blame Cooper for violating act
Friday, July 30, 2010
By MEREDITH SOMERS
Staff writer
The Charles County commissioners admitted they violated the state’s Open Meetings Act in denying entrance to a resident wishing to attend a public meeting May 21, but stand by their claim that a closed meeting May 13 to discuss the elimination …

Southern Maryland Newspapers reports:
Teachers make election choices
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
By GRETCHEN PHILLIPS
Staff writer
The Charles County teachers union is backing mostly incumbents in the school board race and only one incumbent in the commissioners’ race in the upcoming elections.
The Education Association of Charles County — the teachers union representing more than 2,000 educators in the public …

Southern Maryland Newspapers reports:
Testy exchanges rule at FOP election event
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
By BETHANY RODGERS and MEREDITH SOMERS
Staff writers
Time was of the essence Monday evening for political hopefuls who each had three to four minutes to win over sheriff’s officers and community members at a candidate introduction night.
The Charles County Fraternal Order of Police organized …

Southern Maryland Newspapers reports:
Plans still are vague on shape of reorganized effort
Details of what Charles County’s newly outsourced economic development effort will look like are sketchy, but a hybrid model that relies on both public and private partnership is one option that has grabbed the spotlight.
Called a local development corporation model, this type of program …

Southern Maryland Newspapers reports:
More questions than answers remain
Too little and too late is how some local business leaders characterized the Charles County commissioners’ fledgling plans for economic development following their decision to disband the government agency formerly in charge of business growth.
The critical comments came after the commissioners held an invitation-only meeting Friday at the …

Southern Maryland Newspapers reports:
The Charles County commissioners’ decision late last week to dismantle the county economic development department left many business leaders searching for reasons for the move and how the county plans to grow the private sector.
“If I’m an outside businessperson looking in and I see that this county just got rid of their …