Dorchester County introduces bill to create Department of Water and Wastewater, dissolve sanitary district

Dorchester County’s Council voted July 16 to introduce a bill to establish a Dorchester County Department of Water and Wastewater Services and abolish the Dorchester County Sanitary District, Inc. and the Dorchester County Sanitary Commission.

Clerk Donna F. Lane told the Council the legislation is being introduced pursuant to Md. Code Ann., Local Gov’t § 20-805 and is intended to transfer responsibilities for water and wastewater services to a County department and create a Water and Wastewater Advisory Board to oversee transition issues. Consultant Sandra Tripp-Jones presented the policy overview and timeline for a phased transition.

Council President George L. Pfeffer, Jr. emphasized the move is intended to be collaborative, saying the change "is not a hostile takeover of the Sanitary District," and said the transition is expected to benefit residents. The Council approved introduction and directed publication of a public hearing; County Attorney Charles MacLeod said the bill would take effect 60 days after a public hearing if adopted. Peter McElroy was introduced as the Director of Water and Wastewater and said he is "looking forward to what's to come."

Why it matters: creating a county-run utility department centralizes legal and operational responsibility for water and wastewater services and removes authority from a separate sanitary district. The bill also creates a transition advisory board that, per the draft, would be strictly temporary and would sunset on June 30, 2028 if the Council takes no further action.

Next steps: the Council approved introduction by roll call and will publish a public hearing before any final adoption vote. The public hearing and subsequent adoption vote will determine the bill's final timing and implementation details.