St. Mary’s County health officer orders non‑congregate sheltering; commissioners approve emergency funding and hazard pay

Health Officer Meenakshi Gard Brewster on April 7 issued a public health order directing St. Mary’s County to locate and reserve non‑congregate shelters to allow vulnerable residents and exposed first responders to quarantine or isolate away from the general public.

Why it matters: The order, effective April 7, 2020, was issued amid widespread community transmission of COVID‑19 in the county and cites federal and state emergency declarations as well as FEMA guidance that non‑congregate sheltering must be documented by an official public health order.

Brewster, the county health officer, summarized the public health rationale at the start of the briefing and repeated a science point emphasized throughout the meeting: “the virus can be transmitted by people before they even suspect that they have the illness.” She explained that, because people can be infectious before symptoms appear, residents should "monitor for 14 days" after exposure and that symptomatic persons should isolate, using separate bedrooms and bathrooms where possible.

Brewster read the order’s preamble aloud in the meeting, citing the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declarations, President Trump’s March 13 national emergency declaration, the FEMA March 18 memorandum on non‑congregate sheltering, and Governor Hogan’s March 5 proclamation declaring a catastrophic health emergency in Maryland. She said the order is issued "pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Charter and laws of Saint Mary's County, Maryland, and the laws of Maryland" and directed county government to reserve non‑congregate shelters for vulnerable populations; the order was presented during the Board of Health portion of the meeting and signed in the record during the session.

Commissioners’ emergency actions and funding - Continuation of local state of emergency: County staff asked the commission to extend the local state of emergency beyond the initial proclamation period; the commission adopted a resolution to continue the local state of emergency (the resolution remains in effect until rescinded or superseded). The motion passed on a voice vote.

- Supplemental appropriation public hearing: County attorneys and finance staff asked the commission to schedule a public hearing on April 21, 2020, at 9:15 a.m., to consider a supplemental appropriation of up to $3,000,000 to cover COVID‑19 costs. Jeanette Cudmore, the county chief financial officer, certified that $3,000,000 was available. Commissioners also temporarily suspended certain public‑hearing notice rules for this hearing so the record can be opened for seven days and a final decision can follow the hearing. The motion to set the hearing and suspend the administrative rule passed on a voice vote.

- Immediate emergency allocation: The commission approved a budget amendment to allocate $850,380 from the commissioners’ reserve for COVID‑19 emergency response and authorized the director of emergency services to approve future COVID‑19 expenditures. Director of Emergency Services (last name Walker) described how the funds would be used for personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies, and three specific projects: a homeless encampment response at the Manor / Passport site (proposal cost $48,000), an option to arrange housing for first responders (quoted at $22,500 per month and only charged if used), and ongoing PPE and supply procurement to support hospitals, long‑term care facilities, fire/EMS and law enforcement. The motion passed on a voice vote.

- Hazard/response pay and pandemic policy revision: The Department of Human Resources presented a revised pandemic response policy that implements hazard/response pay differentials and follows state and federal guidance for emergency leave. The commission approved the pandemic response policy and the hazard‑pay differential, applying the differential retroactively to April 1. HR staff estimated the differential would add approximately $155,000 to the county biweekly payroll for eligible groups (law enforcement/corrections, 24/7 public safety staff, STS drivers and landfill employees). The motion passed on a voice vote.

Financial notes and process clarifications Finance staff told commissioners that the county will use the commissioners’ reserve and then seek to reimburse the reserve with fund balance upon formal supplemental appropriation; Jeanette Cudmore explained the difference between the reserve and fund balance and said fund balance is an appropriate one‑time source for emergency spending. Commissioners and staff noted that expenses will be tracked for potential FEMA reimbursement but that the percentage and timing of any reimbursement is unknown.

Public‑facing information and next steps Brewster said the health department will post more specific local case data soon at www.smchd.org/coronavirus and reminded residents that symptomatic people who lack a primary care provider may call the county COVID‑19 hotline (301‑475‑4911, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Saturday) to speak with a health department nurse. Commissioners scheduled the April 21 public hearing on the $3,000,000 supplemental appropriation and authorized the immediate use of the commissioners’ reserve to address urgent needs while that process proceeds.

Votes and formal actions taken during the meeting were approved by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the minutes.