Talbot County, Maryland

05/15/2026

Category: County Council

The Talbot County Council held a budget work session and regular meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Council Member Keasha Haythe was absent.

FY27 Final Budget Work Session

Prior to the regular meeting, Council held a work session on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget and Appropriation Ordinance, Bill No. 1625. Council members Callahan, Lesher, Mielke and Stepp were present.  Council member Haythe was unable to attend. Discussion focused primarily on additional funding requests related to school safety and student support services.

Talbot County Public Schools (TCPS) requested an additional $1.3 million above the originally proposed allocation. The request included $500,000 to support staffing for alternative learning environments, including four certified teachers and one licensed social worker to assist students requiring more individualized academic, behavioral and emotional support. TCPS also requested $800,000 to implement weapon detection systems at Talbot County middle and high schools.

Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has conditionally approved the purchase of a weapon detection system for TCPS as a non-recurring cost exclusion.  The Council raised questions regarding long-term operational impacts, how the cost was determined for the weapon detection system and whether there are staffing impacts associated with the  request.

Council requested additional information from TCPS about the alternative learning environment including how many students are currently served in the program, what the current policy is from both TCPS and MSDE and what data will be used to quantify the success of the program for student outcomes.

Several members emphasized the importance of balancing school safety priorities with the County’s long-term fiscal planning and discussed the possibility of a 50/50 cost share on these items with TCPS. Following discussion, Council requested to meet with TCPS Superintendent Sharon Pepukayi and staff on Monday, May 18 at 4:00 p.m. for additional discussion regarding the TCPS funding request before finalizing FY27 budget decisions.

Council also reviewed a request from the Town of Easton seeking $80,000 in County funding to assist with staffing School Resource Officers (SROs) in private schools within Easton’s municipal boundaries. Under the proposal, the officers would serve as sworn members of the Easton Police Department operating under the Town’s supervision. In exchange, the Town proposed redirecting more than $580,000 in opioid settlement funding toward County opioid response initiatives as part of a proposed five-year partnership agreement.  Council approved the request with Council members Callahan, Mielke and Stepp in favor and Council member Lesher voting against.

Regular Meeting

Proclamation: Community Action Month – May 2026

The Council presented a proclamation to Andy Hollis, Executive Director, and Yvette Robinson, Deputy Director, Neighborhood Service Center, recognizing May 2026 as Community Action Month in Talbot County.

The proclamation highlighted the Neighborhood Service Center’s role as Talbot County’s designated Community Action Agency. As the County’s Community Action Agency, the Neighborhood Service Center provides a wide range of services and programs focused on reducing poverty, strengthening families, and helping residents achieve long-term stability through emergency financial assistance, food distribution, youth programming, eviction prevention, digital access, reentry support, workforce development, and energy assistance for low-income households.

Council President Chuck Callahan, who serves as President of  the Board of Directors for the Neighborhood Service Center, and acts as the Council liaison to the organization, praised the staff and volunteers for their work supporting residents throughout the county.

“The work that we are doing is phenomenal and crucial to this community,” said Callahan. “I see it and I am there pretty much all the time… I really enjoy seeing firsthand how helpful it is.”

Proclamation: National Emergency Medical Services Week – May 17–23, 2026

The Council presented a proclamation recognizing National Emergency Medical Services Week in Talbot County from May 17 through May 23, 2026.  Members of the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services EMS Division, including Tina Kintop, Division Chief, Lt. Jackie Reiss, Capt. Brian Micheliche, and EMT Drew Dickerson. Kintop noted that additional EMS personnel were unable to attend because all emergency response units were actively responding to calls throughout the community at the time of the meeting.

The proclamation recognized emergency medical services personnel for providing lifesaving care to individuals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and highlighted the important role EMS providers play in emergency response, preventative care, follow-up care, and access to telemedicine services. This year’s national EMS Week theme is “EMS Week: Improving Outcomes, Together.”

Council members thanked emergency responders for the critical role they play protecting public health and safety throughout the County.

Council President Chuck Callahan, who previously served in emergency services, also recognized the sacrifices made by emergency responders and their families.

“Your day in and day out — it’s not a ‘I can’t go,’ it’s ‘you’ve got to go,’” said Callahan. “We appreciate the dedication that you give us here in Talbot County and we are blessed to have you.”

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Hearings

Council held several public hearings related to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded projects.

For All Seasons Renovation Project

Council conducted a public hearing regarding a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant award supporting renovations and facility upgrades at the For All Seasons, Inc. Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center located at 300 Talbot Street in Easton.

County Grants Administrator, Mary Kay Verdery, stated that the cost of the overall project is expected to total approximately $1.2 million, with additional support provided through federal, State, local, and private funding sources. Renovations are designed to support a more trauma-informed care environment by improving safety, privacy, accessibility, and emotional comfort for clients receiving services.

Project representatives provided Council with an update on construction progress, including renovations to counseling offices, bathrooms, common areas, hallways, stairwells, and elevator access. Additional upgrades will include enhanced security features, improved accessibility, and expanded client service space.

Construction began in July 2025 and is anticipated to be completed in summer 2026; a ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Council members expressed appreciation for the work being done by For All Seasons to support behavioral health and crisis response services throughout the Mid-Shore region.

COVID CDBG CV-1-11 Food Pantry Program

Council held a public hearing regarding the COVID CDBG CV-1-11 Food Pantry Program, which provides food, supplies, equipment, and staffing support for local food assistance programs serving Talbot County residents.

County Grants Administrator, Mary Kay Verdery, provided updates on Community Development Block Grant funding supporting food distribution efforts through the Neighborhood Service Center and the St. Michaels Community Center. Funding has supported food pantry operations, meal programs, shelving, equipment, staffing assistance, and expanded pantry hours.

Andy Hollis, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Service Center, spoke about the increasing demand for food assistance services in Talbot County. Hollis shared the story of a mother of four seeking enough food to support her family while waiting for SNAP benefits to begin and noted that food lines regularly begin forming outside the organization early each morning. He thanked the County Council for its continued support of programs serving vulnerable residents throughout the community.

Amy Horne, Executive Director of the St. Michaels Community Center, stated that the organization provided more than 50,000 meals to Talbot County residents through its food programs in 2025 and is currently on pace to exceed that number in 2026. Horne thanked the County Council and County staff for helping expand food access for residents throughout St. Michaels and the Bay Hundred area.

Funding associated with the program will continue supporting food assistance efforts and community support services benefiting low- and moderate-income residents throughout Talbot County.

Other Business

• Upper Shore Workforce Investment Board (USWIB): Ellen LaFrankie, Executive Director, provided an overview of regional workforce development initiatives and requested Council concurrence for the Upper Shore Memorandum of Understanding for 2026–2028. Council unanimously approved the request.

• Providence Strategies Update: Michael “Mike” Mason provided Council with an overview of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly Session and discussed legislative and budget matters affecting county governments and local jurisdictions across the state.

• Resolution No. 394:  This bill was introduced by Council members Callahan, Lesher, Mielke and Stepp. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 9th at 5:30 p.m.

• Bill No. 1626: Council members Callahan, Lesher, Mielke and Stepp introduced legislation that would permit corporate flags to be flown from a flagpole which display a business name or corporate logo, subject to certain conditions. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 9th at 5:30 p.m.

County Manager’s Report

• Town of Easton Request for Letter of Support: Council unanimously approved a request to submit a letter of support for the Town of Easton’s application for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant funding for Rapid Flashing Beacon Activation Signals at high-volume pedestrian crossing areas.
• New County Website: Council approved a request from the Department of Technical Services to award a contract to GHD Digital in the amount of $77,659.65 for redesign of the County website to improve accessibility, navigation, functionality, and overall user experience for residents accessing County information and services online. The redesign will also consolidate multiple County websites onto a common hosting platform and support compliance with updated ADA accessibility requirements.

Next Meeting

The Talbot County Council will hold a budget deliberation meeting on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room, South Wing, Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street in Easton.

The Council’s next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room, South Wing, Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street in Easton. Both meetings are open to the public.

council highlights meeting highlights cdbg grants for all seasons neighborhood service center emergency services