Howard County Council accepts two withdrawals of Board of Appeals resignations, leaves third unresolved

Howard County Council Chair Opal Jones said the council met in a special virtual session to address recent letters of resignation and withdrawals involving members of the Board of Appeals and to seek legal guidance on members’ terms.

"I move that this meeting be closed in accordance with the Maryland code, General Provisions Section 3-305 B, 1 and 7," Chair Opal Jones said before the council voted to enter closed session to discuss personnel matters and to consult counsel.

A council member who spoke in open session summarized prior advice the council had received, saying "resignations... were not, under Maryland law, rescindable," and that at least two resignation letters had been circulated among council members. Chair Jones disputed that the council had formally accepted any letters in open session and said the appointing authority belongs to the council acting as a body.

The council voted in closed session and, when it reconvened publicly, Chair Jones reported that the body had approved a motion accepting the withdrawal of resignation for Jean Ryan and for Felita Phillips. She said the council did not take action to accept or to reject the withdrawal related to Lynn Furcob; three separate motions concerning that member failed in closed session.

The administrator read the roll call to close the meeting, with named council members recorded as voting yes to enter executive session. The public recap did not include detailed roll-call tallies or the names of movers and seconders for the closed-session motions announced by the chair.

The council concluded the special session and said it would continue work in future meetings as needed.