Talbot County Council approves pension transfers for EMTs and corrections staff, assigns Bellevue ferry lease and signs off on multiple contracts; county audit:

Talbot County Council on March 25 voted unanimously to approve a package of administrative resolutions and contracts including moving emergency medical technicians into the Maryland Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System and transferring local detention center officers into the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System; the council also approved assignment of the Oxford–Bellevue Ferry lease to a new operator, awarded multiple Parks and Recreation contracts, and accepted the county’s FY 2023–24 audit, which carried an unmodified opinion but noted a continuing material weakness related to bank reconciliations.

The approvals affect hiring and retention for public-safety staff, preserve an historic ferry operation, fund capital repairs at county parks and the community center, and position several community organizations to pursue outside grant funding. The council’s votes were unanimous on the items listed below.

Christopher Lehman, engagement partner for SB & Company, presented the county’s FY 2023–24 financial-statement audit and said, “we've issued a clean or unmodified opinion on the financial statements,” meaning the auditors found the statements free of material misstatement. Lehman said the single-audit (federal grant compliance) had no compliance findings. He also told the council auditors “did note 1 material weakness in internal controls,” carried forward from the prior year and tied to the timeliness of bank reconciliations; management is implementing a three-part corrective-action plan to address the issue. Martha Sparks, Talbot County finance director, attended the presentation and fielded council questions.

On pensions and personnel, the council introduced and then approved administrative resolutions to enroll eligible county emergency medical technicians (noted in the presentation as 26 EMTs) in the state Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System (LEOPS) and to transfer about 40 local detention officers into the state Correctional Officers’ Retirement System. County officials and council members described the moves as tools to aid recruitment and retention for public-safety roles already covered in other parts of county government. The administrative resolutions were introduced by counsel and approved by roll call (all votes recorded as “Aye”).

The council approved assignment of the Oxford–Bellevue Ferry lease to Jetty Light LLC (new owner Captain Jim Andrews). Tom and Judy Bixler, the outgoing operators, introduced Andrews and asked the council to reassign the county lease so operations can continue. Council members thanked the Bixlers for their stewardship of the ferry and welcomed Captain Andrews. The motion to approve the lease assignment passed by unanimous vote.

Parks and Recreation projects approved included: a contract extension for portable sanitary/chemical toilet services (bid 2303) to Pearson’s Comfort Group (sum not to exceed $46,147); award of bid 2421 for redecking work at Bellevue Harbor Pier (low responsive bid recorded in the packet at $85,002.80, with partial reimbursement from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources); and authorization to purchase and install a replacement generator at the Talbot County Community Center with Barnes Electric for $211,950, plus a temporary rental generator for $19,000. Council members noted funds exist in the current fiscal-year budget for these items.

The council also approved county purchases and infrastructure work: a blanket purchase order (piggyback) with David A. Bramble for up to $1,200,000 for primary-road paving (estimated coverage ~14 miles during the year), and the purchase of 20 septic / pump units (sole-source selection per Maryland Department of the Environment process) at a combined cost transcribed as $138,000 to support sewer-service-area installations and Bay Restoration Fund reimbursements.

On community support and grants, the council approved letters of support or funding commitments for multiple applicants: a $16,500 contingency-fund allocation to the Neighborhood Service Center for security and fire-monitor upgrades (finance director certified funds available); a letter of support for a Maryland Heritage Areas Authority non-capital grant request from the Talbot Watermen Association for interpretive signage ($30,000 requested in the presentation); a request for a letter supporting the Trapp Volunteer Fire Company’s application for FY2026 community project funding toward a replacement firehouse (projected historic $6,000,000 cost noted by the volunteer company); and a letter of support to Congressman Harris for a grant application to the Whitsett Center (Eastern Shore Youth Crisis Center proposal). Each of these motions passed by voice/roll-call vote with all council members recorded as “Aye.”

Council members and county staff also discussed a potential cut to state funding for the Senior Care Program administered through the Talbot County Health Department. Carrie Ady, program manager for senior services, and Commission on Aging Vice Chair Jenna Markey told the council that earlier proposals in Annapolis would have reduced senior-care funding substantially; more recent action at the House reduced the proposed statewide cut but county-level impact remained uncertain. Ady said Talbot has served 207 unduplicated clients last year and 214 so far this year; the program receives roughly $160,000 annually from the state plus county contributions. The council approved a motion to send a letter of support urging the state to preserve senior-care funding and authorized staff to consider contingency funding if a state cut is finalized.

Other personnel and appointments: the council confirmed Joseph Nordyke to the Board of Electrical Examiners and approved a slate of nominees to the Talbot 250 Commission (list included representatives from towns and local institutions; appointments were passed by roll call). The council also authorized a letter to state legislators opposing Senate Bill 931 and House Bill 1036 (described in the packet as the Renewable Energy Certainty Act), saying the county objected to language the council said would preempt local zoning and limit county land-use discretion; council members said they are coordinating opposition with the Maryland Association of Counties.

Votes at a glance

- FY 2023–24 audit accepted (presentation only; no vote on the audit opinion itself). - Administrative resolution: move EMTs (approx. 26) to LEOPS — motion introduced and approved; roll-call: Callahan Aye; Stepp Aye; Lesher Aye; Milke Aye; outcome: approved. - Administrative resolution: transfer local detention center officers (approx. 40) to Correctional Officers’ Retirement System — approved by roll-call (4–0). - Assignment of Oxford–Bellevue Ferry lease to Jetty Light LLC (new owner Captain Jim Andrews) — approved by roll-call (4–0). - Letter of support: Talbot Watermen Association Maryland Heritage Areas grant ($30,000 request) — approved (4–0). - Neighborhood Service Center contingency funds, $16,500 — approved (4–0). - Letter of support: Senior Care Program lobbying to preserve state funding; authorization to consider contingency funding if needed — motion and letter approved (4–0). - Letter of support: Trapp Volunteer Fire Company community project funding (FY2026) — approved (4–0). - Parks & Rec: Portable toilet services (bid 2303) to Pearson’s Comfort Group, not to exceed $46,147 — approved (4–0). - Parks & Rec: Bellevue Harbor pier redecking (bid 2421), low responsive bid recorded at $85,002.80, DNR reimbursement concurred — approved (4–0). - Parks & Rec: New community center generator to Barnes Electric $211,950 plus temporary rental $19,000 — approved (4–0). - Road paving piggyback order (David A. Bramble) up to $1,200,000 — approved (4–0). - Purchase of 20 septic/pump units (sole-source via MDE selection) — approved (4–0). - Letter to Congressman Harris supporting Whitsett Center Eastern Shore Youth Crisis Center proposal — approved (4–0). - Administrative: appointments to boards and the Talbot 250 Commission — approved (4–0). - Council resolution: oppose SB 931 / HB 1036 (Renewable Energy Certainty Act) — approved (4–0).

What council members said and next steps

Council members repeatedly framed the pension transfers as a recruitment and retention tool for public safety workers; Council member Lesher described the corrections pension action as “a long time coming” and noted enabling state legislation and a one-year waiting period. County Manager Clay Stamp and staff will execute the lease assignment paperwork for the ferry operator and coordinate upcoming events, including a public blessing of the ferry scheduled for April 4. Staff will also proceed with contracts and procurements authorized by the council and will return if contingency funds are required to backfill any approved state funding cuts to the Senior Care Program.

The audit report and the council’s approvals together outline a mix of near-term capital work, personnel policy shifts, and continued reliance on state and federal grant sources. The material weakness on bank reconciliations remains an open corrective-action item that county finance staff said they are addressing.