By Staff Writer
A surprise motion to earmark $100,000 to fight the controversial National Power Project (NPP) sparked a debate Thursday morning among the Carroll County Board of Commissioners, revealing both strong opposition to the project and frustration over communication among board members.
Commissioner Tom Gordon introduced the motion during an open session, proposing to set aside money from the county’s reserve for contingencies to support legal or advocacy efforts against the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP)—a federally backed transmission line project that could cut across dozens of private properties in the county. Gordon stated this “puts us in an interesting position.” With the 90-117 properties in lawsuit with MPRP “I can’t sleep at night when it effects our community’s way of life.”
Citing a recent federal court ruling that permits access to private lands without clear timelines or property owner consent, Gordon called the project “deeply concerning” and said the county must act swiftly. “This isn’t just Carroll’s fight—it’s everyone’s fight,” he said. But fellow commissioners objected not to the intent, but the process.
Commissioner Ed Rothstein criticized the move as premature and lacking transparency. “This is the first I’m hearing of it,” he said. “If we’re going to allocate money, we need to do it right—with budget staff and legal counsel present, and with proper public notice.” On the other hand, he repeatedly stated “I applaud your intent” as the discussion continued.
County Budget Director Ted Zaleski confirmed that any transfer from contingency reserves must be placed on a public meeting agenda and involve a formal amendment to the budget. “You can’t create a new budget line on the fly,” he said. The disagreement escalated when Kiler accused Gordon of coordinating the surprise announcement with members of the public without informing the full board. He questioned Gordon by calling his motion “a cheap political scheme” further highlighting his confusion towards the proposal.
Commissioner Joe Vigliotti quickly and initially supported Gordon’s motion, saying the board needed to take a clear stance in support of residents. “This is not a political stunt. It’s us saying we’re committed to protecting private property rights,” he said. “In my mind Gordons proposal is a placeholder and shows the public we understand,” commissioner Vigliotti continued. However, as discussion unfolded, multiple commissioners, including Kenny Kiler and Michael Guerin, raised legal and procedural concerns.
Commissioner Guerin addressed the room by saying, “I don’t see how this is unreasonable” supporting Gordons efforts in starting the necessary conversation. “We will do what we can” said Commissioner Rothstein as he acknowledged the urgency of the unified concern for the public.
After nearly 40 minutes of intense back-and-forth, Gordon withdrew his motion, and the board unanimously agreed to place the topic on next week’s agenda for formal discussion. The commissioners plan to explore appropriate funding mechanisms and clarify how any earmarked funds would be used—most likely under legal expenses.
Despite the disagreement, all five commissioners reiterated their strong opposition to the NPP and pledged continued support for affected residents. Commissioner Rothstein summarized the consensus: “We’ve never wavered on this issue. Our message has been clear. But if we’re going to act, we need to do it together—and we need to do it the right way.”
To view the commissioners meeting on Thursday, June 26th, visit the Carroll County Government YouTube Channel.
