The Calvert Board of County Commissioners is poised to reorganize the Planning and Zoning Department, removing the Board of Appeals and having its staff report to County Administrator Terry Shannon. If one commissioner has his way, the reorganization will go beyond that department and take in the entire county government.
The board had asked Shannon to analyze the Planning and Zoning Department, including a review of current processes, organizational structure and staffing amounts. In a memo to the commissioners, Shannon says her “initial thoughts are to define the structure based on their three basic functions/principles: Planning, Zoning and Development.”
Shannon also stated, “To enhance the independence of the Board of Appeals, it may be in the best interest of the County and the BOA to have the staff to the BOA report to the county administrator.”
That got immediate agreement from Commissioner Steve Weems (R-At Large). “I am an adherent of separating the Board of Appeals from Planning and Zoning,” he said. “Having them together has been the origin of some discontent in these cases, because they’re serving more than one master. It’s a rebranding, and we were elected to make improvements.”
Commissioner Pat Nutter (R-At Large) also agreed: “There’s a lot here that needs to be said. There occasionally been some conflicted cases. The Board of Appeals should have its own attorney.”
Third District Commissioner Evan Slaughenhoupt (R) wanted to go further — much further. “We should look across county government for reorganization. We may find that some financial, personnel and legal sections should come under the county administrator. Maybe the planning function belongs with economic development, while the public information function belongs with the county administrator.”
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