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Greetings!
Thank you for your interest the Charles County Board of Commissioners and Charles County Government e-news series. Your suggestions and comments are always welcomed.
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County Charter Moves Forward for Public Vote
Commissioners to publish and forward to the
Board of Elections
On Tuesday, July 22, the Charter Board presented the County Commissioners with the final draft of the proposed charter. The charter is a blueprint for the structure of county government that defines duties, powers, rules, and procedures. In accordance with the Maryland Constitution it will be published in a local newspaper and forwarded to the Board of Elections to be placed on the November 2014 ballot.
Charles County's current form of government is code home rule. If approved by majority vote, charter would replace code home rule as the form of county government. Currently, 10 Maryland counties operate under the charter form of government: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, Talbot, and Wicomico.
Key provisions in the charter include:
- Separates legislative and executive branches of county government by creating a County Council and a County Executive;
- Provides for election by district for three County Council members and election at large for two County Council members;
- Sets term limits for the County Council and the County Executive;
- Allows for citizen referendum for most laws;
- Provides procedural safeguards for funding county pension and post-employment obligations;
- Creates a cap of three percent on County debt;
- Provides for future amendments to the Charter in accordance with the Maryland Constitution; and
- All existing laws, boards, and commissions will remain unchanged unless they directly conflict with the charter.
The full text of the charter is available online at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/commissioners/boards/charter-board.
For more information about the charter or the steps to adopt a new form of county government, visit www.CharlesCountyMD.gov
or contact Melody Weschler, Charles County Attorney's Office, at 301-645-0555 or email. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
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Railroad Crossing Repairs
Leonardtown Road in Waldorf and Charles Street in
Schedule:
Monday, July 28 through Friday, Aug. 1
MD 5 Business (Leonardtown Road) at the railroad crossing in Waldorf will be closed. No vehicles will be able to cross the tracks during this time. Pedestrian access will be maintained. Area business access will remain open and accessible.
Drivers will able to access MD 5 Business (Leonardtown Road) up to the roadway closure. CSX will provide signed detour routes for each crossing repair. Motorists can use U.S. 301 (Crain Highway) and MD 5 (Mattawoman-Beantown Road).
The State Highway Administration (SHA) is working with CSX Transportation to manage traffic, publicize the closure, and inspect the project. CSX Transportation will perform all repairs and manage the traffic detours. Work includes removal of existing track and crossings, grading and preparation of the track beds, installation of new precast concrete crossing panels, reinstallation of rails and paving of the asphalt crossing approaches.
While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving to help prevent crashes. Stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Slow down and don't follow too closely. Drivers, passengers as well as workers are at risk. Commuters should allow extra travel time in their schedule as the closure of these major routes will result in increased traffic and probable delays along designated detour routes and other alternative travel routes. Safer driving. Safer work zones. For everyone. Travelers may also visit www.MD511.org to plan their routes in advance.
The crossing area is in a busy commercial corridor. Residents and commuters are encouraged to support local businesses during the closure. On average more than 30,000 travel MD 5 Business (Leonardtown Road) through Waldorf each day.
For more information, contact the Citizens' Liaison Office at 301-645-0550. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
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Household Hazardous Waste Collection Aug. 2
The Charles County Department of Public Works would like to remind citizens that the next household hazardous waste collection will be held on Saturday, August 2. The household hazardous waste collection site is held in the parking lot of the Department of Public Works building, located at 10430 Audie Lane, off of Radio Station Road in La Plata. Collection hours are 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Items accepted free of charge include: pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, gasoline, oil-based paint, cleaning supplies, pool chemicals, fluorescent lights, mercury thermometers, and other poisons found in the home. Please remember to mark any container that does not have a readable, original label.
Unacceptable materials include bio-medical waste (sharps, needles, anything with bodily fluids), latex paint, prescription drugs, and ammunition. Used motor oil, anti-freeze, propane tanks, and batteries are accepted on a regular basis at various collection sites. Latex paint is not considered hazardous waste and can be placed in your household trash as long as it is solidified. This can be accomplished by adding kitty litter, shredded paper, paint hardener, or sawdust to aid in drying it out.
Household hazardous waste collection will occur on the first Saturday of each month through December.
Additional Collection Dates
Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1, and Dec. 6.
For more information, call the Charles County Department of Public Works, Environmental Resources Division at 301-932-3599 or 301-870-2778, or the landfill and recycling information line at 301-932-5656. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
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Charles County Government Receives Awards for Excellence
Charles County Receives NACo Achievement Awards
The Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services' Information Technology Division is a recipient of two National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards. The NACo Achievement Award Program recognizes innovative county government programs throughout the nation.
The division received an award for the Charles County's Mobile Asset Management Program. This program improved operations through real-time, accurate data exchange and streamlined work order management by use of County issued mobile devices. The program enriched staff development through IT technology training and enhanced employee productivity.
Charles County received a second NACo award for its MDT Emergency Response Integration program. This program produced a creative, scalable solution that integrates the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems patient-tracking application with existing Emergency Medical Services applications. Program benefits include minimizing emergency vehicle on-board equipment and reduced training requirements.
Charles County Selected Nation's Most Digitally Advanced County
The County Commissioners are pleased to announce that the Center for Digital Government has selected Charles County as the nation's most digitally advanced county in the 150,000 - 249,999 population category. This is the Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services' Information Technology Division's 12th consecutive year as a recipient of this award and their first year winning in the higher population category.
The 2014 Digital Counties Survey recognizes leading examples of counties using information and communications technology to improve services and boost efficiencies. To be eligible for the award, a county must be a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo). There are 3,069 NACo county members.
Dave Eicholtz, director of the department of Fiscal and Administrative Services said, "To be recognized as one of the most technologically advanced counties in America validates the hard work our Information Technology Division staff achieves annually."
The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. Through its diverse and dynamic programs and services, the Center provides public and private sector leaders with decision support, knowledge, and opportunities to help them effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century.
For more information about the Center for Digital Government, and to view the full list of winners, visit www.govtech.com/cdg/.
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Public Forums and Town Hall Meetings
An up-to-date list of upcoming Town Hall Meetings and Public Forums is maintained on the County's website.
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Join us for the Green Expo and Tech Showcase on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Regency Furniture Stadium (11765 St. Linus Drive, Waldorf). Inside the stadium, the Green Expo event will feature vendors showcasing eco-friendly products and solutions. Gates open at 5:35 p.m. The Tech Showcase and "Shred-It" events will take place in the stadium parking area starting at 3 p.m. During the Tech Showcase, meet members of the MDVolt organization, and test drive the latest electric vehicles. The "Shred-It" event is an opportunity for you to bring up to five boxes of personal documents for secure shredding (until 6 p.m.). A game ticket is required to enter the stadium.
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This year's Early Childhood Day event will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Capital Clubhouse (Waldorf).
Our theme is... "Back-to-School!"
We guarantee you'll have a blast.
Just look at all the fun we have planned...Face Painting, Balloons, Music, Games, Rock Climbing, Backpacks and Door Prizes, Storytellers and Storybook Characters,
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Celebrate Charles: March from Benedict is taking place on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30-31, at Serenity Farm (6932 Serenity Farm Rd, Benedict).
TOUR... Serenity Farm and learn about the farmer and plantation life from local farm owner and historian. Visit Harvest House, purchase locally produced meats and vegetables. VISUALIZE... over 40 British ships in the Patuxent River from the porch of the Harvest House... the area where many 1814 artifacts were found. EXPLORE... a petting zoo, enjoy a walk to the river, live music, as well as artisans, crafters, local food, kids rides, and evening entertainment.
Exhibitor spaces are available for $10 for one day or $15 for two days. Register today to secure a spot at this unique event. Registration is available online.
For details, visit www.CharlesCountyMD.gov, or contact Ms. Rachel Reynolds, Promotions Specialist, at 301-645-0601 or through email. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
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