WE ALL GET FRUSTRATED from time to time. The stoplight you go through twice daily seems ridiculously long. All the houses under construction in your area look like suburban barracks. Your streets flood every time you get half an inch of rain; and there isn’t a single place in town to have a picnic with your family. 

Although the problems can be quite complicated, the answer is simple. How can your town fix minor problems and find solutions for the larger issues?  Answer, YOU must become an active part of your community.

Finding the proper official for the problem

The first thing to do when you have a concern is to decide which governing organization is best suited to handle it.  At the top of the Charles County food chain is the Board of Commissioners.  There are five commissioners that represent different regions of Charles County.  Within the county structure departments, serving various functions, see to it that Charles County runs smoothly.  It is their jobs to see that each part of the county properly serves its citizens and therefore they are often a good place to start.

The proper department can be determined fairly easily if you know which is in charge of what.  This link takes you to listings of county government departments and their responsibilities on the Charles County website.

For instance, if you have had a problem with the administration at your child’s school, the next step would be to contact the Office of the Deputy Superintendent, which is in charge of school administration and operations.  It’s always a good idea to send a copy of the letter to the Superintendent and the Board of Education, just so they are aware of the situation.

If the official responsible for resolving the problem fails to resolve it, an appeals process usually exists higher up the governing food chain. Regarding our hypothetical school problem, Katie O’Malley- Simpson, Charles County Public Schools spokesperson, told The Bay Net that if a citizen is dissatisfied with the outcome of the decisions made by the Deputy Superintendent, the appeals process involves the Board of Education. 

Strength in numbers

Sometimes you can find the answers you want by looking to community organizations who share your concern or desire for change.  If, perhaps, you are concerned about the proposed Waldorf bypasses and the impact they will have on the wetlands of Charles County, you can become involved with the local environmental groups who share that concern.  These types of organizations gain power as they gain members.  The more members who participate, the more credibility the organization has with local officials. 

You can also apply to serve on a government advisory board or committee.  The Waldorf Citizens Advisory Committee, for example, assists the Charles County Department of Planning & Growth Management by monitoring proposed town development projects.  Citizens apply to serve on these boards and committees through the county commissioners, an