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Commission for Veterans and Military Families reports fourth-year progress; chair to retire
Summary
The county Commission for Veterans and Military Families reviewed outreach, Purple Star School successes and efforts to launch a regional veterans treatment court; commission chair Dr. Brandon Temple said he will retire and step down from the commission.
The Calvert County Commission for Veterans and Military Families presented its annual update to the Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 26, highlighting outreach programs, state legislative changes, Purple Star Schools achievements and efforts to establish a regional veterans treatment court.
Dr. Brandon Temple, chairman of the commission, said the group added four members in the past year and revised its mission and vision after changing the panel’s name to include military families. Temple briefed commissioners on several state measures that affect veterans and military families, including a Modernization of Military Laws Act (alignment of state terms with federal uniform services), a Family Served Act that provides certain hiring preferences for military spouses, a Time to Serve Act that increases leave for National Guard service, and a veteran‑owned small business reserve that can give contracting preference to qualifying veteran‑owned businesses.
Temple highlighted local initiatives. The county’s Purple Star Schools work was singled out: 23 of 24 eligible county schools applied and a large share of statewide Purple Star designations this year came from Calvert County; the commission said the goal remains to have all county schools designated. Temple also reported ongoing work with county state's attorneys in Calvert, St. Mary’s and Charles counties to set up a regional veterans treatment court (a problem-solving court for qualifying nonviolent offenses), with a target of July 2026 if grant and interagency steps proceed.
Other local activity includes a veterans resource guide (a living document regularly updated), a new Calvert County military family guide for incoming military families, outreach through a “Serving Together” partnership and a veterans services presence at the Southern Pine Senior Center twice monthly; staff reported 89 veterans served at that site during the past year. Temple said staff and commission members continue to discuss property‑tax‑credit options for disabled veterans (including a potential 50% credit for certain service‑connected disabilities and income caps) and will reengage finance staff to assess fiscal impacts before any implementation.
Temple said he will retire from active military service and move out of the area; he will step down from the commission in January and earlier as needed. Pat McCoy will serve as acting chair until the commission elects officers.
Ending: Commissioners thanked Temple for his leadership. Staff said they will provide fiscal impact numbers for proposed tax‑credit options on request and continue to work with regional partners on the veterans court and other initiatives.
