Dorchester County Council adopts ordinance to create Department of Water and Wastewater, abolishes sanitary district

The County Council of Dorchester County approved Bill No. 2024-7 on Aug. 20, 2024, a measure that abolishes the Dorchester County Sanitary District, Inc. and the Dorchester County Sanitary Commission and establishes the Dorchester County Department of Water and Wastewater Services and a Water and Wastewater Advisory Board. The public hearing drew no public comment and the ordinance passed by roll call: Pfeffer — aye; Detmer — aye; Kramer — aye; Nichols — absent; Travers — aye.

The bill was presented for a public hearing as a local-government action taken pursuant to MD. CODE ANN., LOCAL GOV'T § 20-805. The legislative language, as read at the hearing, states that the bill's title shall be deemed a fair summary and outlines the organization and functions of the new county department while terminating the previously established sanitary entities.

Council members did not receive public testimony on the bill during the hearing. After the roll call vote the Council returned to regular session and continued with other business.

The action transfers authority and oversight for water and wastewater services from the statutory sanitary entities to a county department structure and provides for a county advisory board; the ordinance text as publicly introduced and the statute cited were the basis for the vote recorded in the minutes. The Council's published minutes and the Presiding Officer's closing statement document the vote and the closed-session topics that preceded the regular session.

The Council adjourned with no further public comment.