Mayor Stacy Link began the Sykesville Town Council meeting on February 28, 2023 by reading a statement regarding a claim filed by Warfield Company to the the Open Meeting Compliance Board that she and members of the town council violated the Maryland Open Meetings Act.

The claim focuses on two planning commission meetings on February 7, 2022 and February 21, 2022, where four council members and the mayor attended unannounced. The commission was considering Warfield Company’s application for a rezoning text amendment that would allow them to develop the former hospital property entirely residential, which the council and majority of the residents of Sykesville find unacceptable.  The planning commission ultimately recommended the denial of the application and the council then voted unanimously to deny the application.  

The Open Meeting Compliance Board found the town council guilty of meeting improperly and required them to make a statement publicly on the board’s decision as well as to sign a copy of the decision.  Because the town disagreed with the board’s opinion, the town decided not to sign the opinion and appealed the decision to Carroll County Circuit Court.

Judge Hecker dismissed the appeal on February 2, 2023 and Mayor Link said in her statement Tuesday evening that the compliance board was incorrect and had exceeded its authority. She did however read the statement regarding the complaint and the town council’s position in order to ensure Sykesville residents that she and the town council are working in their best interests.  The Mayor’s full statement can be watched below.