HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Washington County commissioners received a favorable ruling from Maryland’s Open Meetings Compliance Board. At its latest meeting, County Administrator Michelle Gordon read into the public record the board’s decision rejecting allegations that commissioners violated state law during an April 28 public hearing.
The opinion found no violations of the Open Meetings Act, concluding commissioners acted within their authority when they removed a disruptive attendee, muted the livestream during the disruption and managed public comment.
The decision marks the latest chapter in an ongoing series of disputes over transparency and meeting procedures that has repeatedly placed the board before the state compliance panel.
Reading from the Compliance Board’s opinion, Gordon told the commissioners and audience, “For the reasons below, we find no violations of the Act.” She continued that the board found officials were entitled to remove a disruptive attendee and concluded, “Regarding the complainant’s assertion that the county board illegally silenced microphones … we also find no violation of the Act.”
The complaint alleged commissioners violated the Open Meetings Act by muting the livestream during the disruption, removing a member of the public from the meeting and improperly restricting public comment.
The Compliance Board rejected each claim, finding the Act does not govern livestream audio, that officials may remove disruptive attendees and that the allegations concerning public comment fell outside the board’s jurisdiction.
Tuesday’s decision follows earlier Compliance Board rulings that criticized different aspects of the commissioners’ meeting procedures. In one case, the board found commissioners violated the Open Meetings Act by failing to make the detailed public disclosures required before entering a closed session, a procedural error the county acknowledged and said it would correct.
In a separate complaint, the Compliance Board concluded the county improperly barred a resident from attending an evening public meeting after he had been removed from an earlier meeting that same day.
Taken together, the rulings reflect an increasingly contentious relationship between the commissioners and a small but persistent group of residents who have repeatedly challenged county meeting procedures through public confrontations and formal Open Meetings Act complaints.
While the Compliance Board has found procedural violations in some cases, the opinion also reaffirmed the commissioners’ authority to maintain order during contentious public meetings.
Historic tax credit program expands
Commissioners also approved agreements allowing property owners in Smithsburg and Funkstown to participate in the county’s Historic Properties Tax Credit Program through the Washington County Historic District Commission.
Historic Preservation Planner Meghan Jenkins said changes adopted in 2024 clarified how municipalities could participate by delegating historic permit review authority to the county through memorandums of understanding rather than creating their own review process.
“The important thing to remember with these is that this will enable permit review for a voluntary application for these historic tax credits,” Jenkins said. “It does not affect other permit reviews within the municipality.”
Jenkins said Sharpsburg and Keedysville already participate in the program, while Hagerstown conducts its own historic design review. Smithsburg and Funkstown completed the local approval process before the agreements came before commissioners Tuesday.
Commissioner John Barr said using the county review process spares smaller municipalities from creating their own historic review boards.
“If we don’t agree to this, they would have to do this on their own. It would put the burden back on the towns, is that right?” Barr asked.
Jenkins agreed, noting some municipalities would otherwise need to hire consultants or create their own review structure.
Commissioners unanimously approved separate agreements for both Funkstown and Smithsburg.
County launches ‘Faces of Farming’ campaign
Commissioners also received a presentation on “Faces of Farming,” a yearlong marketing campaign designed to highlight Washington County’s agricultural industry through monthly videos featuring local farms.
Kelsey Keadle, agriculture business specialist with the Department of Business and Economic Development, said two farms will be featured each month, with videos shared on county social media platforms and incorporated into agricultural education programs in county Public Schools, 4-H, FFA and other community organizations.
The campaign is intended to educate residents and visitors about agriculture’s economic importance while helping connect younger generations with local farming through classroom instruction and community outreach.
Washington County is home to nearly 900 family farms producing approximately $167.9 million in agricultural products annually, Keadle said.
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State Board nixes complaint against Washington County commissioners, but dispute continues
HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Washington County commissioners received a favorable ruling from Maryland’s Open Meetings Compliance Board. At its latest meeting, County Administrator Michelle Gordon read into the public record the board’s decision rejecting allegations that commissioners violated state law during an April 28 public hearing.
The opinion found no violations of the Open Meetings Act, concluding commissioners acted within their authority when they removed a disruptive attendee, muted the livestream during the disruption and managed public comment.
The decision marks the latest chapter in an ongoing series of disputes over transparency and meeting procedures that has repeatedly placed the board before the state compliance panel.
Reading from the Compliance Board’s opinion, Gordon told the commissioners and audience, “For the reasons below, we find no violations of the Act.” She continued that the board found officials were entitled to remove a disruptive attendee and concluded, “Regarding the complainant’s assertion that the county board illegally silenced microphones … we also find no violation of the Act.”
The complaint alleged commissioners violated the Open Meetings Act by muting the livestream during the disruption, removing a member of the public from the meeting and improperly restricting public comment.
The Compliance Board rejected each claim, finding the Act does not govern livestream audio, that officials may remove disruptive attendees and that the allegations concerning public comment fell outside the board’s jurisdiction.
Tuesday’s decision follows earlier Compliance Board rulings that criticized different aspects of the commissioners’ meeting procedures. In one case, the board found commissioners violated the Open Meetings Act by failing to make the detailed public disclosures required before entering a closed session, a procedural error the county acknowledged and said it would correct.
In a separate complaint, the Compliance Board concluded the county improperly barred a resident from attending an evening public meeting after he had been removed from an earlier meeting that same day.
Taken together, the rulings reflect an increasingly contentious relationship between the commissioners and a small but persistent group of residents who have repeatedly challenged county meeting procedures through public confrontations and formal Open Meetings Act complaints.
While the Compliance Board has found procedural violations in some cases, the opinion also reaffirmed the commissioners’ authority to maintain order during contentious public meetings.
Historic tax credit program expands
Commissioners also approved agreements allowing property owners in Smithsburg and Funkstown to participate in the county’s Historic Properties Tax Credit Program through the Washington County Historic District Commission.
Historic Preservation Planner Meghan Jenkins said changes adopted in 2024 clarified how municipalities could participate by delegating historic permit review authority to the county through memorandums of understanding rather than creating their own review process.
“The important thing to remember with these is that this will enable permit review for a voluntary application for these historic tax credits,” Jenkins said. “It does not affect other permit reviews within the municipality.”
Jenkins said Sharpsburg and Keedysville already participate in the program, while Hagerstown conducts its own historic design review. Smithsburg and Funkstown completed the local approval process before the agreements came before commissioners Tuesday.
Commissioner John Barr said using the county review process spares smaller municipalities from creating their own historic review boards.
“If we don’t agree to this, they would have to do this on their own. It would put the burden back on the towns, is that right?” Barr asked.
Jenkins agreed, noting some municipalities would otherwise need to hire consultants or create their own review structure.
Commissioners unanimously approved separate agreements for both Funkstown and Smithsburg.
County launches ‘Faces of Farming’ campaign
Commissioners also received a presentation on “Faces of Farming,” a yearlong marketing campaign designed to highlight Washington County’s agricultural industry through monthly videos featuring local farms.
Kelsey Keadle, agriculture business specialist with the Department of Business and Economic Development, said two farms will be featured each month, with videos shared on county social media platforms and incorporated into agricultural education programs in county Public Schools, 4-H, FFA and other community organizations.
The campaign is intended to educate residents and visitors about agriculture’s economic importance while helping connect younger generations with local farming through classroom instruction and community outreach.
Washington County is home to nearly 900 family farms producing approximately $167.9 million in agricultural products annually, Keadle said.
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