County blows by key deadlines

Won't meet self-imposed dates for development plans

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010

The Charles County commissioners have failed to meet two deadlines they set for moving the county's economic development efforts forward.

After voting to disband the county's economic development department in May, the board members used several occasions to address the public and reassure residents and the business community that there would be no lapse in the work of bringing new businesses to the area and supporting those already here.

But the goal to have a request for proposals — for a private firm to form an economic development plan and carry it out — ready by June, which the county guaranteed in a letter to the Maryland Independent written in May, has come and gone by two months.

Even the notice of intent to request proposals — which is a precursor to the actual request and gave the county an additional 60 days to prepare the form — has surpassed its 90-day deadline by a week.

"We're not waiting for the election; we're making sure that the [economic development] advisory members understand their roles. We're getting input for the RFP done, refining it for Charles County. … One model doesn't fit everything," commissioners' Vice President Edith J. Patterson (D) said. "Ninety days is a point we were looking at, but possibly longer than that."

"I'm very concerned about this … [the commissioners] are setting back not only our opportunities to recruit businesses … there's nothing in place to support and assist our current businesses. It doesn't seem the committee and the commissioners are on the same page," said Candice Quinn Kelly, Patterson's opponent in the Sept. 14 Democratic primary for the commissioners' president seat.

The first meeting of the commissioner-appointed economic development executive board was held Aug. 24. No public notice of the meeting was given. The four sitting commissioners attended along with county administrators.

Both county representatives and members of the executive board confirmed that the meeting was convened mainly as a welcome and thank-you for those who have volunteered their business knowledge for the board.

The members also discussed the group's bylaws — which will be voted on by the commissioners — and set their next meeting for Sept. 8.

While both Democratic candidates said they want to see the county's economy prosper on both the business and tourism sides, that's about where the similarities end.

Patterson said it is important to stop viewing the county as a bedroom community and instead focus on the foundation that's been laid for world-class industries to come here.

"We've put forth infrastructure: Roads, water, sewer, broadband. We're forward-thinking in terms of addressing light rail and the Waldorf Sub-Area Plan. The fact is that there are certain things that people want … we're bringing educational opportunities as well as technology into a community that sorely needs it," Patterson said.

"This is just the blueprint, this is where we are; we're going to move forward. We're having consultants finalize the Waldorf Sub-Area Plan. We're reaching farther in terms of economic development.

"We have the resources, it's all here. Businesses are not going to go to a place where the work force is questionable, where schools are not good. It's a matter of bringing them here with the supportive initiatives we have in place."

Kelly has a 12-point economic development plan that spreads attention to small and local businesses already in the county and also dedicates support to the area's military presence. Kelly owns Maredith Management, which manages apartment complexes and housing developments, and Candy Clark Boutique in La Plata.

One of the first actions she said she would like to take if elected to office would be to look at the 5 percent hotel and motel room tax to see what the funding is for that general fund category.

According to the county's fiscal 2011 budget book, the tax was enacted in 1988 and is calculated with the room rate for people staying less than 120 days.

Between fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011 there was a 5.2-percent — or $55,000 — drop in revenue. The tax is anticipated to generate $994,000 for fiscal 2011.

"I'd want to reach some consensus to whether or not to resurrect our economic development department or move forward with a model economic development commission. We need to do that quickly," Kelly said.

"I'll say again that I cannot conceive of why a board of commissioners would [have] dismantled their economic development department and it still — how many months — doesn't appear we've made any progress short of appointing a committee that is just beginning to roll up its sleeves. I think it's irresponsible leadership."

Linking the hotel tax to her hopes for the county's economy, Kelly said that the tourism department needs to be resurrected.

"One of the missions of the county government — certainly through the economic development department — is to support local businesses. Tourism is something, perhaps not enormous revenue, but it helps all of our local businesses," Kelly said. "I'm supporting that concept because I think by injecting or invigorating our tourism department our local businesses will see some immediate results."

Patterson said tourism in Charles County never has diminished as a priority in her view, which is why the county chose to retain the same person who has worked with its tourism department after the May budget cuts.

"Tourism is one of our stronger suits. We have so much history that is here. It's why the county elected to fund the welcome center [in Newburg at the Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge]," Patterson said. The state budget cut funds for the center in the current fiscal year. "We have a new tourism advisory board. These are people who in prior months have brought ideas to us. I think it's important that we have a monthly report from the tourism board. I think it's important to be very fluid in terms of our exchanges; it's essential to have communication within the group and it's also very important to look at ways we can do partnerships with our neighbors, whether that is Washington D.C., Prince George's County or Dahlgren [Naval Surface Warfare Center]."

While Patterson said she plans to see through the process of putting out the request for proposals, Kelly said she would rather wait and see what happens after the election, since the commissioners haven't met their deadlines anyway.

Both Republican commissioners' president candidates said they feel the same.

"I wish they would sit on it. I cringe every time I pick up the paper," Jim Thompson said. "It's just like the events at Cliffton [on the Potomac]. I don't think [the commissioners] are truly prepared for what they are talking about. I think they need to leave it for the next administration."

"I don't think that's prudent at all," Jack Cheseldine said of the notion to move ahead with the request for proposals.

"Right now we're so close to the elections, no matter who gets in there — they're going to review what the past commissioners have done. If they want to slide something through there quick, the new commissioners may not want to go along with that. I'm not for it. I'm not for it at all."

Like their Democratic competition, both Thompson and Cheseldine share a desire to see the county flourish by supporting small business and keeping economic advice local, but the two men have varying plans for achieving that goal.

Thompson said he would like to see a moratorium on taxes that accrue on existing property in a redevelopment zone, preferably in the urban Route 925 and U.S. 301 corridor.

If someone "invests in developing that property in that redevelopment zone, we can freeze the taxes on that existing property," Thompson said. "The county still collects taxes, but you get an investment in the county in areas that are feasible. There are no new roads, just some minor improvements. As far as power lines and Internet, it's there. I would like to see a 10-year freeze on that."

Thompson said that developing out into rural areas runs the risk of hitting red tape. He used the cross-county connector and Maryland Airport expansion projects as examples of financially burdensome efforts that require additional permits and reviews.

"I have confidence in the small business leaders we have in the county," Thompson said.

"We have an active chamber of commerce; we have the [Greater Waldorf] Jaycees plus La Plata's business group. I think we have a lot of volunteer resources in the county we can pull from and move things forward. I don't think outsourcing is a cure-all."

"I think that we definitely need the economic development department back within the county. We should not outsource it whatsoever," Cheseldine said.

He said the county has a variety of small businesses to draw from to get goods and services, but that he does not want to see strip malls opening up that are only half-full.

"I certainly believe that no matter what people think, government does not create jobs," Cheseldine said. "Private business and industry create jobs. But I also believe that government can create the climate for businesses to create jobs.

msomers@somdnews.com