Calvert County Acknowledges Open Meetings Act Violations, Changes Procedures

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) President Todd Ireland publicly acknowledged two state findings during the board’s regular meeting on Aug. 18 that the county failed to meet portions of Maryland’s Open Meetings Act when documenting several closed sessions.

Ireland read summaries of opinions issued Aug. 10 and Aug. 17 by the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board and said the county has already revised its internal procedures and will continue making adjustments to ensure compliance with state law.

The board’s findings focused on the adequacy of written closing statements prepared before commissioners entered closed session and the summaries released afterward. In both opinions, the Compliance Board concluded that several documents did not provide sufficient detail about the topics to be discussed or the specific legal basis for closing meetings to the public.

In the Aug. 10 opinion, the Compliance Board found deficiencies in closing statements tied to March 11, March 18 and Aug. 26, 2025. It determined that the county had only partially completed the required written statements before entering closed session and later supplemented them after the fact. The board also found that summaries from May 13, 2025, and April 28, 2026, lacked adequate detail describing what occurred during the closed meetings.

The opinion did reject one allegation, finding that the county’s method of organizing Open Meetings Act materials on its website did not itself violate the law.

The Aug. 17 opinion addressed a separate Aug. 27, 2024, closed session. The Compliance Board again found that the county’s written statement and subsequent summary did not sufficiently explain the subject matter or the reason for closing the meeting. That opinion also reviewed actions taken during the August 2024 closed session and an April 7, 2026, work session, ultimately concluding that it lacked authority to determine whether ratification of the board president’s signature during the 2024 session was lawful. It also found no violation regarding the scope of the closed-session discussion or the vote taken during the 2026 work session.

“The county takes its obligations under the Open Meetings Act seriously, has already implemented changes and will continue to do so as necessary,” Ireland said.

Commissioner Earl “Buddy” Hance said the county attorney reviews meeting agendas and determines which matters are appropriate for closed session. He said commissioners did not intend to conceal improper activity.

“There was nothing nefarious in any of that,” Hance said.

Ireland also said the Compliance Board is currently reviewing another complaint involving the county and that officials expect a decision in the near future. He said the county will release additional information once that opinion is issued.

Watch the full meeting below.

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