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Residents press commissioners on AWS NDA and data-center transparency; one commissioner defends proposed moratorium
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Summary
Public commenters asked whether NDAs involving AWS remain in force and sought project timelines; Commissioner Hart defended a proposed moratorium and parameters for potential data-center development, saying the measure aims to protect residents and allow public input.
Residents used the public-comment period March 17 to press the board for more transparency about a potential data-center project and any non-disclosure agreements involving Amazon Web Services.
Joe Cormier asked whether the NDA with AWS is still in effect and requested a complete project timeline, including when AWS or its shell developer first contacted county partners and when state permits were requested. "Now that AWS has been revealed as the counterparty to your NDA, is the NDA still in effect?" Cormier asked. He also urged the board to create a dedicated information page for the AWS campus and to provide whistleblower protections for staff with relevant information.
Kenneth Lee of Huntingtown asked why certain safety features or costs were not included when the golf course and clubhouse projects were purchased or built, and reiterated opposition to NDAs questioned in Annapolis hearings.
Commissioner Hart responded at length during commissioner reports, saying his proposed moratorium was intended to provide time for the public to weigh in and for staff to obtain expert analysis. Hart said the moratorium was not a political maneuver but a way to avoid repeating past controversies and to ensure residents have access to full information before decisions are made.
Board members noted that NDAs cited in prior discussions have expired and that, to date, the board has not been provided firm project details; staff said they do not yet know the size or scope of any proposed project until a formal submission is made.
The board did not take immediate action to impose a moratorium on data-center agreements during the meeting; commissioners encouraged public engagement and announced upcoming opportunities to ask questions and learn more at open-house sessions.
