Charles County Planning Commission Secretary Bob Mitchell grilled Planning Commission Chairman Courtney Edmonds on Monday night over a meeting he had with Commissioner President Candice Quinn Kelly (D). The issue involved Edmonds’ concern that the commission ignored legal counsel advice over Falcon Ridge and Hunters Brooke.
“I was wondering, you’ve been summoned by the President of the County Commissioners to give your thoughts on something that came up,” Mitchell said. “I believe it was on Falcon Ridge and Hunters Brooke when she thought you should meet with the attorneys on the vote we had that night. I was just wondering if you, as chairperson, if you’re representing us, if you would then bring back to us what the results of conversation was about because I’m sure it has to be some sort of planning commission action or I’m not sure if it was your action alone.”
“It’s not my action, I think it’s you’re misinformed,” Edmonds responded. “I have not spoken with Commissioner Kelly on any meetings or with any Falcon Ridge attorneys.”
“There is a memo to Barbra Holtz and Candice Quinn Kelly dated January 30th,” Mitchell replied. “It says, ‘please be prepared to brief the county commissioners in closed session on the responsibilities of this board and the actions of the planning commission. I have spoken with chair Courtney Edmonds and it is my understanding he will be contacting (Elizabeth) Theobalds, County Attorney assigned to the planning commission for her guidance as well.’ Are you telling me Candice did not contact you? Are you saying this memo we all received is not truthful?”
“I did not discuss, with Commissioner Kelly, any type of meeting nor did I meet with any Falcon Ridge or Hunters Brooke attorneys,” Edmonds said. “I informed Commissioner Kelly, and I provided in writing to County Attorney Barbara Holtz, that I was concerned about the planning commission’s compliance with and disregard of legal counsel advice. I told Commissioner Kelly that I intend to submit, in writing, a letter to the county attorney that she be present for one of our meetings to discuss three primary aspects of the performance of the planning commission: One, the role of the deputy county attorney of her role on the planning commission; Two, he role of legal advice in the planning commission’s proceedings; Three, the potential impact of non-compliance with the county attorney’s advice during the planning commission meetings.
“In that regard, I wasn’t directed. I wasn’t asked. I told Commissioner Kelly about my concern with planning commission actions and I was going to ask that Barbara Holtz attend one of the meetings. She had tentatively agreed to attend one of the meetings. She was scheduled to provide her presentation during the last meeting but some sort of scheduling conflict came up and she was unable to make it. That particular memo you’re referring to, I’m sure you’re relying on, I have no problem with that but it’s not accurate and I think
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