Commissioners divvy up committees

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

The Charles County commissioners announced their new committee assignments Nov. 7.

Charles County commissioners' President F. Wayne Cooper (D) will serve on the Charles County Scholarship Fund, the Lower Potomac River Tributary Team, Civista Board of Trustees, Maryland Association of Counties Legislative Committee and MACo's Past President Recognition Subcommittee. Cooper will also serve as MACo second vice president and the chairman of the Unity in Our Community Diversity Forum Planning Committee.

Commissioners' Vice President Edith J. Patterson (D) will serve on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity and Intergroup Relations, the Charles County Department of Social Services Committee, Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee and as vice chairwoman of the Unity in Our Community Diversity Forum Planning Committee.

Commissioner Reuben B. Collins II (D) will serve on the Charles County Economic Advisory Council, the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission and on the Patuxent River Commission.

Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D) will represent the county on the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, the Commission to Study Southern Maryland Transportation, the Transportation Planning Board and the Charles County Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee.

Commissioner Samuel N. Graves Jr. (D) will serve on the Area Council on Aging, Board of Fire and Rescue, Charles County Homeless and Emergency Shelter Committee, Charles County Drug and Alcohol Council, the Fire/EMS Scholarship Committee and on the Tri-County Council's Regional Veterans Health Advisory Committee.

Safety first

Assistant to the County Administrator Roy Hancock informed the board of commissioners that the half-dozen concerns marked during the September safety inspection of the county government building have been solved or are in the process of being completed.

The inspection was conducted by Joane Gulvas, the county's safety officer.

"The walkways around the Charles County government building had been cracked and moved and had created tripping hazards to staff as well the public," Hancock said. "The Department of Public Facilities has been rectifying that doing flash-patching with removal-replacement of some areas of the concrete surfaces and that work is nearing completion. Once the budget permits there will be more widespread work that will take place."

Hancock said the facility's certificates to operate the elevators had expired, but inspections had taken place and the elevators had passed. The new certificates from the state were "forthcoming."

There were several missing ceiling tiles replaced in a room of the government building, an absent faceplate in the Planning and Growth Management office and a few disorganized storage rooms.

Two circuit breakers that had supplies and materials stored too close to the boxes were also cleared.

Community meetings planned in December

The commissioners will conduct three meetings in December to accommodate citizens who are unable to meet with them during their regular business hours.

Following a brief overview by the commissioners, members of the audience will have the opportunity to address their concerns in an informal atmosphere.

Meetings will begin at 7 p.m. at the following locations:

Dec. 3 at the county government building, 200 Baltimore St., La Plata. The meeting is for citizens who reside in Commissioner District 1.

Dec. 7 at the Jaycees center, 3090 Crain Highway, Waldorf. The meeting is for citizens who reside in Commissioner District 3.

Dec. 8 at North Point High School's staff development room, 2500 Davis Road, Waldorf. The meeting is for citizens who reside in Commissioner District 2.

For more information, call Amy Calvin at 301-885-1342 or e-mail

calvina@charlescounty.org.

No session next week

The Charles County commissioners will not meet next week.

Tuesday, Nov. 24

The commissioners will be representing the county at other meetings and will conduct individual appointments as scheduled.

Wednesday, Nov. 25

The county government administrative offices will be closed.