Attendance issues took center stage at the Caroline County Commissioners meeting on March 4, 2025, as officials discussed a proposed policy change aimed at improving board member participation. The draft suggests that members of the Planning Advisory Board (PAB) and the Agricultural Conservation Committee (ACC) could face automatic resignation if they miss more than 25% of meetings within a rolling 12-month period, with no allowance for excused absences.

This proposal, aimed at ensuring active engagement in critical discussions, has sparked debate among commissioners. One member emphasized the burden on leadership to determine the validity of absences, stating, “We cannot afford to have board members that are gonna miss that many meetings.” The intent is to streamline attendance policies, making it clear that consistent participation is essential for effective governance.

In addition to attendance, the meeting also touched on other significant changes, including the potential removal of term limits for board members. A commissioner argued that if individuals are willing to serve and are reappointed by the commissioners every four years, term limits may not be necessary.

Further discussions included adjustments to the composition of the boards, with both the PAB and ACC proposed to be reduced to five members each. This restructuring aims to enhance efficiency and decision-making processes.

As these proposals move forward, the commissioners are expected to weigh the implications of stricter attendance policies and board compositions on community representation and governance effectiveness. The outcome of these discussions could reshape how Caroline County boards operate in the future.