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Northumberland County Economic Development Commission
Meeting: January 21, 2026
6:00 – 8:00 PM
1. Opening of Meeting Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. A quorum was present. Opening remarks included New Year greetings and acknowledgement of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.
Presiding (until election): Executive Director, Economic Development Commission
2. Election of Chairman, EDC
• Nomination: Maurice Johnson
• No additional nominations were made.
• Vote: Approved unanimously.
• Result: Maurice Johnson elected Chair.
3. Election of Vice Chairman, EDC
• Nomination: Melissa (last name not stated in record)
• Vote: Approved unanimously.
• Result: Melissa elected Vice Chair.
4. Approval of Bylaws
• Motion made and seconded to approve the bylaws as presented.
• Vote: Approved unanimously.
5. Approval of Remote Participation Policy
• Motion made and seconded to adopt the Remote Participation Policy.
• Vote: Approved unanimously.
6. Approval of 2026 EDC Meeting Schedule
Meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise posted.
• Motion was made and seconded to approve the meeting dates as listed.
• Vote: Approved unanimously.
7. Agenda Review
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• Amendment requested to revise language from “Co-Chair” to “Vice Chair.”
• Motion made and seconded to approve the agenda as amended.
• Vote: Approved unanimously.
8. Approval of Minutes: November 2025 Meeting
• Minutes Approved: November meeting minutes.
• Motion made and seconded.
• Vote: Approved unanimously.
9. Commissioner’s Corner
a. District 1 – Mr. Corder – not present.
b. District 2 - Vacant
c. District 3 – Ms. Carter –
d. District 4 – Dr. Pica – Noted activity related to a recently approved landscaping business near the Ditchley Recycling Center.
e. District 5 – Mr. Johnson –
i. Discussion on poor house tract and what to do with it. Mr. Brann would like state historic society to survey the property to see if there are areas of particular interest. He also indicated coordinating with a realtor to see what kind of land-use can occur there.
ii. Discussion centered on Planning Commission comments regarding potential land use, historical review, and feasibility considerations for the Poor House Tract and areas along Dodlyt Road. Clarification provided that the Board of Supervisors previously directed the EDC to explore development (not sale) of the Poor House Tract for recreational and related uses. Consensus reached : Proceed with pursuing a historical review of the property; defer any engagement with real estate professionals until funding and feasibility analysis is completed; and align future discussions with prior EDC motions and upcoming Board of Supervisors briefing.
10. Executive Director’s Report
a. MapHub / Do.Stay.Eat Map Pricing
• MapHub has implemented pricing tiers for maps exceeding 100 items; current EDC map contains ~166 items.
• Four options were presented:
(1). Reduce items to one hundred (no cost).
(2). Purchase Business Package ($240/year).
(3). Purchase Hobbyist Package ($96/year).
(4). Explore alternative platforms (longer-term option).
Motion: Approve Map Option (2) (Business Package, $240/year).
Vote: Approved unanimously.
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b. Payment Method Discussion
• Credit card use discouraged due to county policy and continuity concerns.
• Executive Director authorized to explore ACH / PayPal or other county-approved payment mechanisms.
c. FY2027 Budget Submission
• Budget documents reviewed, including clarification of discretionary funds and contract reporting requirements.
• Determined that the $240 MapHub expense should be included as a new, previously unanticipated expense.
Motion: Approve the FY2027 EDC budget as amended, including:
• Inclusion of MapHub contract
• Addition of $240 annual expense
Vote: Approved unanimously.
d. VEP / LRCI Survey Synopsis
• Executive Director presented a summary of survey findings.
• Discussion focused on key takeaways, benchmarking, and alignment with the EDC Strategic Plan.
• Consensus to present a concise “key takeaways” slide to the Board of Supervisors, supported by full documentation.
11. Action Items
a. Executive Director to pursue ACH / PayPal payment options with MapHub and coordinate with county staff.
b. Executive Director to add MapHub contract and expense to FY2027 budget documentation.
c. EDC to coordinate a state-level historical review of the Poor House Tract / Dodlyt Road property.
d. Executive Director to prepare Board of Supervisors briefing materials, including key survey takeaways and land-use context.
e. EDC to revisit land-use strategy discussions at the February meeting, ensuring consistency with prior motions.
12. County Administrator’s Corner
a. Arranged a meeting between the NNPDC Planner and the citizens that participated in the November meeting to discuss their concerns regarding the Little Wicomico River Dredging project.
b. Submitted the JPA. It is currently under review, and the County is providing feedback as required.
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c. Received an email from Congressman Whitman’s office and he has presented the importance of the Little Wicomico project at his committee meetings.
13. Current Projects
a. Mobile Museum planning and preparation
b. Heritage Fair in concert with the Mobile Museum
14. New Business None.
15. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 P.M.
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