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Hazard Mitigation Planning Board elects officers for 2026, approves 2025 annual report
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Summary
At its Feb. 18 meeting, the Hazard Mitigation Planning Board elected Amy Bledsoe chair and a vice chair for 2026, approved and forwarded the board's 2025 annual report to the CSMC, heard an update on the draft St. Mary's 2050 plan and received recognition for winter-storm response efforts.
The Hazard Mitigation Planning Board on Feb. 18 elected Amy Bledsoe as chair for 2026, chose a vice chair, approved its 2025 annual report for forwarding to the CSMC and closed after routine business.
The board opened with roll call and then approved the minutes from the Nov. 19, 2025 meeting by voice vote. A motion to elect Amy Bledsoe as the board chair for 2026 was moved and seconded and carried. A separate motion to elect Ed as vice chair also passed by voice vote.
The board reviewed the posted 2025 Hazard Mitigation Planning Board annual report. An unidentified speaker moved to "approve the 2025 Hazard Mitigation Planning Board annual report as presented and forwarded to the CSMC," the motion was seconded and approved.
During board member time, Courtney Jenkins of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management said the department has released the first draft of the St. Mary's 2050 plan and invited the public to review the document and offer feedback via the project website on the St. Mary's County site. Jenkins said a series of drop-in open houses will be held the first week of March at seven locations listed on the project page. "If you go through the Saint Mary's County website, you'll find our project website there, and there is a link to participate now," Jenkins said.
An unidentified board member thanked partners for their work during a significant winter storm in January, praising the county's Department of Public Works and Transportation, State Highways and utility crews for keeping roads open and restoring power quickly. The member singled out the AM team and Chair Amy Bledsoe for extra efforts during the event, saying partners "did a phenomenal job."
Board members also urged residents to take basic precautions against cold-weather damage. One speaker advised homeowners to know the location of their main water shut-off valve and said the county provides free tags to help identify valves. "Please make sure at your own home, you know and your family knows where the main valve is to shut the water off," the speaker said, adding that well users can stop flow by switching off the well pump.
A motion to adjourn was made and seconded; members voted in favor and the meeting ended.
Actions recorded in the meeting (motions to approve minutes, elect officers, approve the 2025 annual report, and adjourn) were passed by voice vote as reflected in the transcript. The transcript records that the annual report was forwarded to the CSMC but does not expand that abbreviation.
