The Carroll County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16 approved $55,280 in spending authority to fund program oversight and monitoring of the county’s Substance Use Recovery Treatment Services program.

County staff described the request as payment for administrative fees and monitoring performed by the Carroll County Health Department under a memorandum of agreement signed in September 2024. Lauren McCarthy, executive director of Mountain Manor (also referred to in testimony as Maryland Treatment Centers), and health department staff described the services provided at Mountain Manor Sykesville, including 24/7 triage beds intended to stabilize people in crisis and link them to further treatment.

Why it matters: Commissioners and county staff said the triage beds reduce strain on emergency departments, provide a rapid alternative after overdose or crisis, and create a clearer pathway into longer-term treatment. County funding will not operate the beds directly; the approved funds are for county oversight and contract monitoring by the health department.

Mountain Manor overview and triage program

Lauren McCarthy, executive director of Mountain Manor, told the commissioners the Sykesville campus contains multiple programs in one building: withdrawal management (detox), longer-term residential treatment and a six-bed triage unit. "Our triage beds are very important and critical to the work we do," McCarthy said. She described the triage unit as a 24/7 access point intended to "stabilize and connect individuals to the next appropriate level of care" and noted that triage stays are currently set at four days (previously 10 days) under the funding structure she described.

McCarthy gave 2024 and 2025 utilization figures: in 2024 Mountain Manor reported 31 triage admissions (100% Carroll County residents), with referrals coming primarily from Carroll Hospital, the county detention center, drug treatment court and mobile crisis teams. She said 2025 referrals and admissions had risen — "about a 20% increase" year to date compared with the same period in 2024 — and that the site was operating at about 85–90% capacity, with 60% of residents drawn from Carroll County (the county contract requires 30% Carroll County residents).

Officials on coordination and access

Celine (Procurement/County staff) introduced the request, saying the amount is approved in the FY26 adopted budget and described the county’s memorandum of agreement with the health department to oversee and monitor the contract for Maryland Treatment Centers. Marie Littich, acting director of the Local Behavioral Health Authority, and Susan Richardson, director of system development and quality improvement at the health department, were present and identified as members of the monitoring team.

Commissioners praised Mountain Manor’s model and urged broader awareness among first responders and community partners. Commissioner Tom Gordon, who led much of the discussion about referrals, urged county staff to circulate the facility’s intake/referral guidance to law enforcement, EMS and community partners to increase utilization at the point of crisis. "The triage program... reduces the strain on local hospitals and other emergency services," McCarthy said, summarizing the program’s intended public-health and system benefits.

Formal action

After discussion, the board voted to approve spending authority for program oversight and monitoring services to the Carroll County Health Department in the amount of $55,280. The motion passed; the record shows the board voted in favor and the motion carried.

What remains unclear or limited in the record

- Eligibility limits: McCarthy said the Sykesville site accepts adults 18 and older; adolescent detox is available at another location and staff said they will assist in referrals for younger patients. The transcript did not include detailed counts of available adolescent beds or the names of those other locations.
- Funding details: McCarthy said triage reimbursement comes from federal dollars routed through the Local Behavioral Health Authority and that the triage-specific pool has declined in recent years; she provided an approximate FY25 figure of a little over $100,000 for triage funding but did not present a detailed funding schedule in the meeting.

Next steps

County staff said the $55,280 is drawn from the FY26 budget and is intended to be used for administrative fees and monitoring for the term of the contract. Commissioners asked staff to disseminate the triage-referral materials to partner agencies so first responders and detention staff can more quickly refer people into the program.

Speakers

- Lauren McCarthy, Executive Director, Mountain Manor / Maryland Treatment Centers
- Celine, Procurement/County staff (introduced the spending authority request)
- Marie Littich, Acting Director, Local Behavioral Health Authority
- Susan Richardson, Director, System Development and Quality Improvement, Carroll County Health Department
- Commissioner Tom Gordon (Board of County Commissioners)
- Commissioner Susan Krebs (Board of County Commissioners)

Authorities

- memorandum of agreement (Sept. 2024) between the Carroll County Board of Commissioners and the Carroll County Health Department to oversee the Substance Use Recovery Treatment Services program (referenced in discussion)

Actions

- kind: motion
motion: "Approve spending authority for oversight and monitoring services for the Substance Use Recovery Treatment Services Program to the Carroll County Health Department in the amount of $55,280."
mover: not specified
second: not specified
vote_record: []
tally: {"yes":4,"no":0,"abstain":0}
outcome: "approved"
notes: "Amount approved in FY26 adopted budget; funds for administrative fees and program monitoring; contract monitoring will be performed by the Health Department under MOA (Sept. 2024)."

Provenance

- topicintro: {"block_id":"s_3850.64","local_start":0,"local_end":179,"evidence_excerpt":"Alright. So next up on our agenda, spending authority for substance use recovery treatment services program oversight and monitoring services. Celine, how are you today?"}
- topfinish: {"block_id":"s_5361.535","local_start":0,"local_end":70,"evidence_excerpt":"All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed, like sign. Motion carries. Thank you very much."}