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St. Mary's alcohol board debates adding alternate members to avoid quorum problems
Summary
Members discussed drafting policy language to allow an alternate member to fill in for absences, reviewing how other counties handle alternates (compensation, attendance, term limits) and agreed to draft language for future consideration.
The St. Mary's County Alcohol Beverage Board discussed Jan. 8 whether to create an alternate-member position to reduce the risk of failed quorums and speed transitions when vacancies occur.
Board administrator Tammy Hildebrand reported she surveyed four other counties and found each uses a single alternate, and the counties typically have three-member boards. Practices varied: Talbot and Worcester pay alternates only when attending, Baltimore City pays regardless of attendance, and term lengths differ.
Members debated whether time served as an alternate should count toward term limits if the alternate later fills a regular seat. Several members said they favored drafting clear language rather than leaving interpretation to future situations. The board agreed to have staff draft suggested language for review at a future meeting.
The board did not adopt any policy at this meeting; members requested a draft for consideration and indicated interest in keeping compensation and term provisions explicit if a proposal moves forward.
