Charles commissioners update ride-share policy in split vote

After a split vote in June, the Charles County commissioners were once again divided on how to allow the expensing of third-party transportation services like Uber.

At their July 23 meeting, the commissioners were provided with updated language to the policy, which now allows for “usage of an external transportation service or company for business travel that is to a location 30 miles or more from the Government Building.”

The policy also clarifies that “transportation services may not be provided by a family member.”

“So you can’t use it unless it’s 30 miles from the government building?” Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling (D) asked.

“Correct,” Deputy County Administrator Jenifer Ellin responded. “The 30 miles would be between the government building and where the meeting is taking place.”

Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II (D) had initially presented the idea of reimbursement for ride-share services to his fellow commissioners at a June 25 meeting, saying that he had the idea after having to drive to various locations throughout the state in relation to his role as a commissioner.

“It’s just an option,” Collins said at the time.

After citing that every commissioner has the ability to use a county vehicle with reimbursed county gas at the June meeting, Bowling (D) asked Collins “why there’s a need for an expense for somebody to chauffeur us around?”

Collins clarified that the allocated funds will still be from the same pool of resources that the commissioners have, but just provide an additional usage.

“It’s a tough fiscal year, and to the public it looks like we need drivers. And I just don’t think that’s fiscally responsible,” Bowling said. “If you don’t spend the money in your travel account, you can transfer it to something like a project account.”

Bowling said that he had used some of the money for food giveaways in the past.

Like the June 25 meeting, the commissioners once again had a 3-2 split vote on the issue at their July 23 meeting, with Collins, Commissioner Ralph E. Patterson II (D) and Commissioner Thomasina “Sina” Coates (D) voting in favor and Bowling and Commissioner Amanda Stewart (D) voting against it.