Talbot County, Maryland

12/19/2025

Category: County Council

The Talbot County Council held , $25 bi meeting on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, which had previously be declared a Special Legislative Day, at 5:00 p.m. at the Talbot County Courthouse. All Council members were present.

Update – University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Project

The Council received an update on the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health project from Ken Kozel, MBA, FACHE, President of Shore Regional Health, and Lara Wilson, Director of External Affairs and Community Liaison, Shore Regional Health.

Mr. Kozel provided national and state context on rural healthcare, noting that nearly 200 rural hospitals nationwide have closed since 2005, with many others reducing services or operating in the negative. He emphasized that Maryland has taken a proactive approach toward sustaining rural healthcare through a new 10-year agreement with the federal government under the AHEAD Model (Achieving Healthcare Efficiency Through Accountable Design), which will begin January 1, 2026. The model focuses on controlling healthcare costs, improving population health, strengthening primary care, and ensuring financial stability for hospitals.

Mr. Kozel also highlighted a proposed $50 billion federal investment in rural healthcare, $25 billion of which must be applied for by the states who will receive $100 million a year for five (5) years; the remaining $25 billion is controlled by the federal government; states must also apply for that portion of the funding. Maryland has applied for its share of funding to support workforce development, preventative care, and innovation in rural communities.

Council members were updated on construction progress at the new Regional Medical Center site near Route 50 and the Talbot County Community Center. Mr. Kozel reported that the hospital’s structure is now rising, with the second floor under construction. The project remains on track to open and begin seeing patients in mid-2028.

A major feature of the facility is its sustainability design. The hospital will utilize approximately 1,728 geothermal wells, each about 400 feet deep, to heat and cool the building using ground temperature. He noted that the facility is expected to be one of the first hospitals in Maryland to rely on geothermal technology.

The facility will include 147 total beds (the current hospital is licensed for 118 eds), all in private rooms, providing greater flexibility to manage emergency department volume, inpatient care, and observation services.

Ms. Wilson shared regional and local data, reporting 7,524 hospital admissions, 71,048 emergency department visits, and 118,553 primary care visits across the five-county Mid-Shore region in the most recent fiscal year. She highlighted the recruitment of 21 new healthcare providers, including six primary care physicians and 15 specialists.

Ms. Wilson also discussed ongoing services in Talbot County, including the Easton Urgent Care center, which served 13,727 patients in FY25, and previewed an upcoming Alternate Destination Program that will allow EMS crews to connect patients with providers in real time to determine the most appropriate level of care.

Council members thanked the Shore Regional Health representatives for the update and reaffirmed the importance of the project as a long-term investment in healthcare access for residents of Talbot County and the Midshore region.

Council Discussion and Referral – Proposed Zoning Text Amendment

The Council discussed a proposed zoning text amendment related to preservation land agreements and agricultural preservation. Following discussion, the Council unanimously voted to refer the proposed amendment to the Talbot County Planning Commission for review and recommendation.

Eligible for Vote – Bill No. 1623 (Alcohol Dispensary Bistros)

The Council considered Bill No. 1623, which proposes amendments to Chapter 11 of the Talbot County Code (Alcoholic Beverages - Bistros).

The bill would:

• Permit on-premises consumption of beer, wine, and liquor at alcohol dispensary bistros
• Expand seating capacity for alcohol dispensary bistros
• Exempt certain Class I licenses in urban locations from the existing market test when no similar license exists within the municipality
• Exempt Oxford Conservation Park from the 500-foot distance restriction for new off-sale licenses

Following Council discussion, the Council unanimously approved Bill No. 1623.

County Manager’s Report

• Board and Committee Appointments
  • Administrative Charging Committee (ACC): The Council unanimously approved the appointment of William Belding.
  • Local Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council (LDAAC): The Council unanimously approved the appointment of Council Member Dave Stepp as the Council’s liaison.
• Department of Parks and Recreation – Joint Use Agreement for Home Run Baker Sports Complex: The Council unanimously approved a request to enter into a joint use agreement with the Town of Trappe and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for improvements to Home Run Baker Sports Complex, including a dedicated girls’ softball field, restrooms, and electrical service for an existing scoreboard.
• Department of Emergency Services – Public Safety Storage Facility: The Council unanimously approved awarding Bid No. 25-07 to El Jefe, LLC in the amount of $1,850,000 for the purchase of real property located at 8845 Mistletoe Drive, Easton, to serve as a Talbot County public safety storage facility, supporting Emergency Services, the Sheriff’s Office, Technical Services, Facilities Maintenance, and volunteer fire departments. This property comprises approximately 1.221 acres of land with improvements that include 9,181 square feet of interior storage space, 3,900 square feet of finished and conditioned office space, and a 12,500-square-foot fenced gravel parking area.
• Department of Public Works – Capital Equipment Purchase: The Council unanimously approved the use of FY26 Capital Outlay funding for the purchase of a tractor boom lift in the amount of $56,600.22 and utility vehicle in the amount of $14,480.44 for use at the Klondike Road Biosolids/Septage Facility.
• Department of Public Works – Region IV Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements: The Council unanimously approved awarding Bid No. 25-15 to Premier Service Group, LLC in the amount of $1,800,000 for improvements to the Region IV Wastewater Treatment Plant at the Preserve at Wye Mills, contingent upon approval by the Maryland Department of the Environment . The project will upgrade the facility to Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) standards, supported by significant State grant funding.
• Office of Communications – Maryland Two Fifty Commission Grant: The Council unanimously approved a request from the Talbot250 Commission  to apply for and accept grant funding from the Maryland Two Fifty Commission’s “Once in a Generation” Grant Program to support Talbot County’s 365th anniversary and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

Next Meeting

The Talbot County Council’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The Council will convene in open session at 2:30 p.m. for a work session with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism before adjourning into closed session.

council highlights meeting highlights hospital