The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. to receive and consider comments regarding a proposed ordinance to enact and adopt a local business preference program. The public hearing will be held in the Commissioners Hearing Room, located in the Calvert County Circuit Courthouse, Second Floor, at 175 Main St. in Prince Frederick.
The public may dial in by phone (audio only) to participate remotely:
- Toll-free: 301-715-8592
- Meeting ID: 899 4188 8251
- Passcode (if asked): #
- To provide public comment: *9
To ensure full public access, the hearing will be streamed live during the regular Aug. 27 BOCC meeting on the Calvert County Government YouTube page at www.youtube.com/CalvertCountyGov and through the Calvert County Government website at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov/Meetings. The meeting will also be broadcast live on Comcast channel 99 and 1070 HD. Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities or linguistic barriers should be requested by contacting the BOCC office at 410-535-1600, ext. 2202, or TTY 1-800-735-2258.
A local business preference ordinance is a policy intended to give a competitive advantage to local businesses when bidding for county contracts. The proposed ordinance is designed to prioritize companies based in Calvert County, even if their bid is slightly higher than non-local competitors. To learn more and review the ordinance in its entirety, visit www.CalvertCountyMd.gov/LocalPreference.
The BOCC is considering the local business preference ordinance with the following tentative timeline for its potential implementation:
- Aug. 20: The BOCC held an initial work session to review the draft of the ordinance during its regular meeting at 10 a.m.
- Aug. 27: A public hearing is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. during the BOCC’s regular meeting. This hearing will provide an opportunity for public input on the proposed ordinance.
- Sept. 3: A final draft is completed, incorporating public feedback.
- Sept. 10: A second work session may be held by the BOCC to discuss any final revisions.
- Sept. 24: The BOCC may vote on the proposed ordinance.
- Oct. 1: If adopted, the new ordinance would take effect.
Please note that all dates are subject to change based on BOCC review and public feedback. Community participation in the public hearing will help guide the decision-making process. View BOCC meetings and agendas at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov/Meetings.
Interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing in person or virtually. Individuals may also submit written comments. Written comments may be submitted by email to procurement@calvertcountymd.gov or mailed to the BOCC at 175 Main St., Prince Frederick, MD 20678.