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Council seeks clarity on county water purchase talks; some members urge pause until staff provides full terms
Summary
Councilors pressed staff June 17 for detailed information on an ongoing memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Charles County for future water purchases, noting uncertainty about timelines and negotiating authority; staff said the council will be fully briefed and the council must approve any final agreement.
Several council members pressed town staff and the town attorney on June 17 for fuller information about ongoing discussions with Charles County on a county water purchase agreement and MOU. Some councilors asked for a temporary pause in negotiations until the manager can present clear negotiating parameters and potential impacts.
Mayor Mary James and Town Manager Chuck Stevens said staff has been engaged in long‑running conversations with the county and that purchasing water is a multi‑year planning issue. Stevens told the council staff will brief the elected body fully before any final MOU or intergovernmental agreement is presented for council consideration: "If it's an MOU or if it's an IGA, the elected body is the decision maker," Stevens said.
Council members expressed frustration at inconsistent information. Councilman McCormick and Councilman Sampson said they had not received timely detail; Sampson urged a pause if the council could not get clear left‑and‑right negotiating limits. Mayor James and other council members noted staff expects to meet with the county commissioners in July (a date referenced in the meeting as July 22 by some participants) and that staff will aim to bring council fully up to date at that time.
Legal and procedural questions were raised about who is leading attorney‑to‑attorney discussions; the town attorney has been the town's lead negotiator in the current exchange with the county, staff said. Several council members asked staff to return with a clear briefing on the status of negotiations, what the town is seeking, projected timing (some staff said the county pipeline and allocations make water purchases a 5–7 year horizon), and a recommended negotiating authority or parameters for council direction.
Stevens said staff will prepare a presentation and that, historically, staff asks the council for negotiating parameters when required. The council did not take a formal vote to stop staff from continuing conversations, but several members asked for more transparency and a forthcoming briefing prior to any council action on an agreement.
