County Council Sets Oct. 27 Hearing on Bill to Merge Talbot's Economic Development and Tourism Boards

EASTON, MARYLAND — Talbot County residents get a public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 27, on a bill that would fold the county's Economic Development Commission and its Tourism Board into a single Board of Economic Development and Tourism.

The County Council introduced the measure as Bill No. 1655 at its Oct. 5 special legislative day, according to the draft minutes of that session, which the county posted with the council's Oct. 13 agenda. All five members, Chuck Callahan, Keasha N. Haythe, Pete Lesher, Lynn L. Mielke and Dave Stepp, are listed as introducing it.

County Attorney Patrick Thomas told the council the purpose is to consolidate the two existing bodies into one board, the minutes say. If the bill is approved, it takes effect March 1, 2027.

Haythe said the county's economic development and tourism departments were combined in 2016, but the boards were not, according to the minutes. She said she asked the Office of Law to draft the bill to align with guidelines of the International Economic Development Council, and that the later start date leaves time to put the combined board in place.

Stephanie Mervine, director of the Talbot Department of Economic Development and Tourism, read a statement into the record. "The creation of this unified board will help us modernize our approach," she said, according to the minutes, adding that it would "strengthen our ability to compete, collaborate, and grow."

The minutes record no public comment at the Oct. 5 session. The bill, posted on the county's website, would create a 17-member advisory board, with 15 voting members appointed by the County Council and two nonvoting members, the director of economic development and tourism and the airport manager.

The hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. in the Bradley Meeting Room, South Wing, Talbot County Courthouse, 11 North Washington Street, Easton. The county's meeting portal lists the Oct. 27 council meeting at 5 p.m.; its agenda had not been posted as of Thursday morning.