[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6534791,"mediaKeyId","3516334-b94ce031ce8e9478a5fb0557d7f4ab93","parentId",3516334,"title","Caroline County staff brief commissioners on solar projects, burial site and possible change to 2,000-acre cap","audioSeconds",306,"startMs",6659000,"endMs",6965000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516334-b94ce031ce8e9478a5fb0557d7f4ab93&start=6659&end=6965","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516334-b94ce031ce8e9478a5fb0557d7f4ab93/thumbnail_6659000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6534791/Caroline-County/Maryland/Caroline-County-staff-brief-commissioners-on-solar-projects-burial-site-and-possible-change-to-2000-acre-cap","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534791-2d2aa491b49009403b98c206598cc12f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437718&Signature=d7urf2p3xu3A-h3s7RvExm1EQlEGSKH3hlYyNjwtoNZ~1cYXaKchY4IVhDvqbP1f9on~dKhqWRHTgTe7hxz894p6klAtAbXg~3zoMXcnN~kmpPkBtNisO5KFd4jgYLwbjh-6ed56r2I69eGeX8KzUhvOmoHS6S21ZMZUtYWzZoqgHYiyvGzgrvplwO-zvhPCvgDv-URt6CFVLSmk0Rmz3SwIwhlmiGK0Ue9S60R4ndDsPf8kqHmPMCpeSGeCdM~s-yhpzj57FIUHipE9KMaIBtBv2-4yhW1Thb19isQo~gWjMtFGV7lMq2mE4nO7Zw3XAmcAsHi~Cnpj10yv4-e~fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Caroline","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","County staff on May 27 updated Caroline County commissioners on several planning and permitting matters, including pending Public Service Commission hearings, a discovery of human remains at a solar site that paused construction, neighborhood screening adjustments for an approved solar array, and a staff-initiated discussion about the county’s 2,000-acre solar cap.

The county administrator reported that recreation and parks staff are finalizing bid documents and SHA permitting materials for North County Park. Staff also said a Sharp Road project remains under review by the Soil Conservation District and that county planners are monitoring response times.

On solar developments, staff said the Public Service Commission will hold a virtual hearing on the Halo solar project (about 30–34 acres in Goldsboro) on June 10; a separate in-person PSC hearing for a Traverse/Trev[erton] solar project near Federalsburg is scheduled for June 12 at 6 p.m. The administrator reported that screening issues raised by an adjacent property owner at another solar site have prompted the developer to add plantings and make modifications within the bounds of previously approved plans.

Construction at a Cherrywood (Traverton) parcel was temporarily halted after human remains were uncovered during excavation; staff said the burial sites advisory committee has been notified and the appropriate actions are underway.

The administrator and commissioners discussed revisiting the county’s 2,000-acre cap on solar development and whether future ordinances should restrict new utility-scale solar on land that is classified as prime agricultural soils or land of statewide importance. The administrator said she would work with planning staff to develop possible code language and to estimate how much county acreage is designated as prime agricultural or statewide-important soils to inform policy options.

Commissioner Porter also noted that local residents have started circulating a referendum petition related to state energy bills that affect county authority over land use; commissioners discussed the petition logistics and indicated interest in broader county discussions about solar policy. The board did not take immediate regulatory action but directed staff to return with draft language for commissioners to consider.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Caroline - Caroline County Commissioners Meeting - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff briefed commissioners on multiple planning items May 27: pending PSC hearings for two solar projects, a temporary halt after human remains were found at one site, screening adjustments at another, and a staff proposal to review the county’s 2,000-acre solar cap.","taxTitle","Caroline County, Maryland","taxId",61674,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6534795,"Caroline County enacts planning commission term-limit repeal; approves $1.05 million excavation contract",258,6293000,6551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516334-b94ce031ce8e9478a5fb0557d7f4ab93&start=6293&end=6551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516334-b94ce031ce8e9478a5fb0557d7f4ab93/thumbnail_6293000.jpg","/articles/6534795/Caroline-County/Maryland/Caroline-County-enacts-planning-commission-term-limit-repeal-approves-105-million-excavation-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534795-fde7f318aafefd955ac2e99899130bfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437718&Signature=mB0JMHriDrmwYi5SXLx508mZ6R9nlq2VRYHy4eVPX~ocBiuIFVSCldyc1mU7s3-qLSbUFPRTsLoIRLz1M~l3zRLyurJg9xN8NOa2jKs07VJq6DnKiBQaADaZP-5s8MIoIJ3EIroFo~PN1T2okhtmGIcNcDJdaYR2SANUSHhN9cuODaWRxDTOByi7J9dSJNiPcf1gu~9d0XhFlXK1pnzmF3APfKio~C3RE95zqFa5ZrhdH-7mfq-6eNxn0Z8e455USGvZLVmrH84DNQZRVzpIGLzDv1BtSD5XoFTS0i~7l7kcTtq2-0EILRPweERgUKnGyr8cjyAWVHlzOu5pG8nWWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caroline County commissioners on May 27 enacted an amendment to the county zoning code removing term limits for planning commission members and approved a $1,045,578.30 contract for an excavation project.

Legislative bill 2025-005, which repeals and reenacts subsections C (term) and E (removal) of Section 175-163 of Article 19 (zoning) to eliminate term limits and to conform removal language with the annotated code of Maryland, was presented for third reading after a public hearing the previous week. Commissioners moved to enact the bill; the motion carried with the board verbally recording \"ayes.\" The bill was designated an emergency act as presented.

On a separate item, the board approved PO number 2025-0582 awarding a contract to Chop Tank Excavating in the amount of $1,045,578.30 for excavation work related to the Double Hills project. Commissioner Breeding recused himself from discussion and voting on the contract because his company had bid on the job; Commissioner Porter led the approval. County staff said the contractor is expected to receive a notice to proceed and that work is intended to start as soon as scheduling is coordinated among parties.

Votes at a glance
- Legislative bill 2025-005 (zoning, planning commission term limits): Motion to enact approved (verbal roll-call \"ayes\").
- PO-2025-0582 (Chop Tank Excavating): Motion to approve contract for $1,045,578.30 approved; Commissioner Breeding recused for conflict of interest.

What’s next: The zoning change takes effect per the county’s enactment procedures. Administration staff will issue a notice to proceed to Chop Tank Excavating once a joint meeting with project stakeholders finalizes an agreed start date.

","The commissioners voted to enact legislative bill 2025-005 to repeal planning commission term limits and approved purchase order PO-2025-0582 to Chop Tank Excavating for $1,045,578.30; a commissioner recused from the contract discussion.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6534799,"Caroline County commissioners advance police-accountability ordinance after technical amendments",5864,426000,6290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3516334-b94ce031ce8e9478a5fb0557d7f4ab93&start=426&end=6290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3516334-b94ce031ce8e9478a5fb0557d7f4ab93/thumbnail_426000.jpg","/articles/6534799/Caroline-County/Maryland/Caroline-County-commissioners-advance-police-accountability-ordinance-after-technical-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534799-2d9ebdc30a85916c2af4ddd853279965/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437718&Signature=h1gzphM5PNNs2jIG4-tgK~GkJyrqkv1e0Qa8U4ZGS6aUCFDmd3EL04Tkeja9hhIgxtVjNYi7vK2L3GzxPpCEn6Gi-aIVqMKaMZMznjugDylALG-6PqcetPu8xjyXrx1EmhbfryoUZ0sGR5B~Tz5JrVJ-YRd2FSNrR2iIa8bVm78rccSQxeHfBox390byCNjk23hPTRF9B57yyFOFh6J1byscwZKcZ1eQn~RWT~qXGsieE5v9IJvWywzWpMIPIzYVCQQH8FRLEYMACLgWGwrdV0T68mNghSibbT6r243kchHq1lcIEMwluP17KBmRcUEmdCa~r0MpukwTWzuGDMxeXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caroline County commissioners on May 27 advanced a local ordinance establishing a Police Accountability Board and Administrative Charging Committee, adopting multiple technical amendments after a state training official told the panel that local governments must fill in gaps left by the state statute.

The move came after Wayne Silver, executive director of the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, briefed the commissioners on how counties across Maryland have implemented the Police Accountability Act and the ACC process. Commissioners then debated changes to legislative bill 2025-006 and approved several amendments; the board voted to send a redrafted ordinance to a third reading and make the revised version available for public review.

Why it matters: The ordinance would create a new chapter (Chapter 20) in the Caroline County Code defining the PAB, the ACC, and trial boards, including membership, training, meeting standards, and record-keeping. Commissioners said the local ordinance must provide procedural detail the state regulation left unspecified so ACCs and trial boards can operate consistently and fairly.

Silver told the commissioners the state commission’s reading of the statute is that ACCs do not themselves have subpoena authority. \"What our interpretation of the law is ... is that it is the law enforcement agency that would issue the subpoena if it was necessary,\" he said, adding that in practice the ACC should work with the law enforcement agency to request missing investigative material rather than try to compel an officer directly.

Commissioners discussed a range of amendments raised by the county’s ACC, the local PAB and chiefs and sheriff representatives. Key changes adopted included inserting the state statute definition of \"police misconduct\" directly into the county ordinance (drawing on Public Safety Article §3-101); requiring ACC rules of procedure to be submitted to the county commissioners for approval; and changing residency language so board members must reside in Caroline County at the time of appointment rather than for three prior years.

The commissioners also removed a clause that explicitly mimicked statutory language about ACCs \"requesting the issuance of subpoenas\"; the board replaced that phrasing with more circumscribed language directing ACCs to request additional information from the law-enforcement agency and permitting the agency to use legally available means to obtain that material. Commissioners said they wanted the ordinance to reflect practical limits on local subpoena powers and to encourage cooperation between ACCs and law-enforcement agencies.

Other adopted amendments addressed member eligibility and conflicts: the ordinance now defines an \"immediate family\" list for disqualification, limits service by members whose law-enforcement family members serve under the jurisdiction of Caroline County, and preserves existing local members while restricting future appointments from local chapters of police fraternal organizations. Commissioners also added a provision allowing PAB members to attend meetings remotely.

Commissioner Stuart Barrell presided over the public hearing and the amendment process; after each motion the board voted verbally (\"aye\") to adopt changes. After the amendment package was completed, the board voted to move the ordinance to a third reading and to make the redrafted bill available for public review before final action.

The state training director cautioned that ACCs fall into two patterns: larger, busier ACCs that risk treating reviews as a paperwork exercise, and smaller ACCs that hear too few cases and risk forgetting training. He recommended clear, written local procedures, an initial jurisdiction check for each case, and regular refresher training. \"The process is working,\" he said, \"however, discipline comes a lot slower than it used to.\"

The commissioners did not close public comment on the topic—several written submissions from the PAB, ACC and law-enforcement leadership had been distributed to the board and were discussed during the hearing. The board closed the public hearing on the bill and approved the motion to advance the ordinance for another reading.

The next step: Commissioners directed staff to produce a redrafted ordinance incorporating the amendments and to post it for public review prior to a third reading.

","After a two-hour discussion and a briefing from the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, Caroline County commissioners amended legislative bill 2025-006 to clarify procedures for the Police Accountability Board (PAB) and Administrative Charging Committee (ACC) and voted to move the draft to third reading for public review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Caroline County staff brief commissioners on solar projects, burial site and possible change to 2,000-acre cap

Caroline County enacts planning commission term-limit repeal; approves $1.05 million excavation contract

Caroline County commissioners advance police-accountability ordinance after technical amendments