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Commissioner praises YMCA MOU to run county childcare center, highlights affordable-housing model
Summary
An unnamed St. Mary's County commissioner said the YMCA will run the county childcare center under an MOU and recommended studying a Frederick County model that uses county land and RFPs to support lower-rent units.
An unnamed St. Mary's County commissioner said the county has a memorandum of understanding with the YMCA for the organization to operate the countychildcare center, praising the YMCA as a nonprofit with expertise running recreation and aquatic facilities and calling the arrangement "a good public private partnership."
The commissioner said the YMCA is not seeking to profit but is providing a service, and said he was "glad" to see the partnership move forward. He mentioned encountering "Robbie Gill" in Easton years ago and framed the relationship as longstanding.
Separately, the commissioner recounted attending conference sessions (Mako) that showcased an affordable-housing approach from Frederick County: the county put forward land via requests for proposals to builders in exchange for regulatory relief and purchase-price or impact-fee breaks, with the resulting units offered at reduced rents. He cited example rent ranges discussed at the session: about $1,000 to $1,100 for a one-bedroom, about $1,500 for a two-bedroom and about $1,900 for a three-bedroom. The commissioner said St. Mary's County has properties that "may qualify for a similar type program" and suggested the county "watch it roll" and consider adapting the model locally.
The transcript records the commissioner's positive comments but shows no formal policy vote or staff directive to implement a YMCA-operated childcare program or to adopt a Frederick County-style housing program during this meeting.
