July 2025 Public Forum
The following text was read at the St. Mary’s County Commissioners public forum on 7/29/25, as seen in the video above.
I’ve noticed a pattern in local government: sometimes the Commissioners act decisively, and sometimes they don’t. I’ve also seen accountability get passed around, when in truth, it stops with you.
Drive down Route 235 in Charlotte Hall and flip a u-turn at Route 236 and you’ll pass nine gas stations in a six-mile, 14-minute loop. Commissioner Alderson noted this recently. Yet last week, when this board had the chance to address the oversaturation, Commissioners Guy, Hewitt, and Ostrow voted against moving forward.
On planning and zoning, I often hear the refrain, “The Planning Commission handles that.” But members of that commission—past and present—have said your zoning ordinance ties their hands. They see the need for change. But they don’t have the power to act. You do.
You appoint the Planning Commission, why appoint them if they’ll be ignored? You adopt the comprehensive plan and the zoning laws they follow. You can revise them when necessary. The process to update the comprehensive plan is underway, but it’s slow—and that shouldn’t stop you from addressing urgent issues now.
I assume you’re aware of the Planning Commission’s concerns and the public’s frustration with unchecked development. If not, that’s even more troubling. Examining your decisions, I can only go by what’s said in meetings and public records.
Last week, Commissioner Hewitt disclosed he owns a gas station—Sheetz in California—but still voted on a motion related to gas station zoning. Maybe that’s legal, but it doesn’t feel right.
By contrast, Commissioner Ostrow recused himself from votes on the Pax River Village Townhomes, because the developer, Atlantic Realty, donated to his campaign. I appreciated that transparency.
But here's the bigger picture: collectively, the five of you have received aprroximately $54,000 from developers—Commissioner Hewitt accounting for over half. And that’s just through 2022.
The money, combined with deflection of accountability, presents questions about your decision making. Public faith in government is at an all time low, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Be thoughtful with your decision.
