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Commissioners debate rescinding Westminster respite‑care lease; decision delayed, closed legal session set
Summary
A motion to rescind a newly signed lease for a proposed medical respite center in downtown Westminster drew prolonged debate at the Feb. 13 Carroll County Commissioners meeting and was deferred for legal review and placement on next week’s agenda.
A motion to rescind a lease for a proposed medical respite center in downtown Westminster was introduced during open administration on Feb. 13, but the board deferred any final action until next week after seeking legal advice and additional information.
A commissioner moved that the Board of Carroll County Commissioners “rescind the lease agreement with [the nonprofit] for the Respite Care Center effective immediately.” The motion was seconded. Commissioners debated whether rescinding the lease should be handled at that meeting or scheduled as a properly noticed agenda item so the public and affected stakeholders could respond. County legal staff advised convening the matter on the next regular agenda and recommended a closed meeting to discuss legal issues; the board then held a short closed session for legal advice and reopened the meeting without a final rescission vote.
Board members said they were troubled by how direction given at an Oct. 17 meeting — described in the record as a request for a letter of commitment — led to a signed lease without clear, documented approval from the full board. Commissioners also cited safety and service-area concerns reported by local law‑enforcement and public-safety officials and asked staff to compile the record of decisions, communications and any agreements connected to the project before the next public meeting.
Public comment at the meeting included remarks from Access Carroll’s executive director, Tammy Black, who asked the board to allow the nonprofit to operate the program and recounted a prior pandemic‑era respite effort. “We did that. We served 39 individuals who were literally on the streets of Westminster,” Black said, describing earlier work the organization conducted during COVID‑19. She called the Distillery Building location a small, confined program and asked commissioners to “give us a chance.”
Outcome and next steps: The motion to rescind was not voted; instead the board agreed to place the item on the next meeting’s agenda, requested staff and legal review, and held a brief closed legal session. Commissioners directed staff to provide all relevant documents, and asked the county attorney to advise on whether interim steps can be taken to pause activity under the lease while the board considers the matter.
