73 Calvert Cliffs Employees Told They Must Find New Jobs

July 23, 2024

The Constellation Energy Group revealed last week that it has eliminated 73 positions at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, though affected employees were told they could apply for other positions within the company.

The move comes as part of an ongoing effort to increase "cost efficiency" as the plant competes in the deregulated utility market, according to Steve Unglesbee, a spokesman for the Constellation Energy Group, owner and operator of the plant near Lusby.

"Seventy-three individuals were told that they did not have jobs at the plant," Unglesbee said.

Unglesbee said the move "was not a job reduction," and that the "final number" of those workers who ultimately lose jobs "will depend on how many will choose to work through the company personnel process."

However, those workers are only assured that "they have employment through the end of this year," according to Unglesbee.

Unglesbee did not specify exactly what kinds of jobs were affected by the move. But he did say the effort would not compromise security or safety at the plant.

"Security and safety are off limits," he said.

In 2000, the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant -- the home of two reactors -- became the first facility of its kind to win relicensing from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The plant, which has employed roughly 1,285 workers, according to Unglesbee, is the county's top taxpayer. Recently, the plant announced plans to spend about $2 million upgrading emergency sirens within the facility's 10-mile fallout zone.

Assistant Sheriff Is a Major

Calvert County Assistant Sheriff Thomas C. Hejl was officially sworn in Monday as a major, a new rank at the department that Sheriff Mike Evans said is his first step toward reorganizing the agency.

Hejl's predecessor as assistant sheriff, Capt. Tilden Garner, will retire early next year. Evans said Garner's captain position will remain unfilled until he can persuade Calvert County commissioners to give him funding for a new command staff position.

"Down the road, I foresee a reorganization of the department where I can get a captain position which can be filled from within," Evans said.

With officials facing a tight county budget, Evans said it may be difficult to get the new position right away.

Evans has spoken publicly of restructuring the sheriff's office to make it more efficient, but the creation of a major was the first concrete step he has taken.

As major, Hejl will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the sheriff's office. Hejl is a former state trooper and investigator for Calvert State's Attorney Robert Riddle, and he played a prominent role in Evans's campaign for sheriff.

Commission Food for Thought

St. Mary's County Commissioners President Thomas F. McKay (R-At Large) was barely in his chair at the head of the commissioners' table Tuesday before he had to abstain from one of the board's first official votes.

The reason? The county government was doling out a payment to his family's grocery business, McKay's Food & Drug.

The bill, which totaled about $40 or $50 for various food items bought by the county, was one of several the other four commissioners approved. But Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D), whose family owns Raley's Town & County Market, joked that the amount might be too much to pay to his grocery rival.

"It's okay, Mr. Raley, I'm sure Raley's Food will come up from time to time," McKay replied in jest. "I'm sure it's Food Lion we'll both object to."

McKay later predicted that he probably would have to excuse himself often from votes related to county bills; apparently, various arms of the county are regular customers at his family's various stores.

"It will probably be every week," he said, adding that the bills are "never large."

Staff writer Colleen Jenkins contributed to this report.

Orphans' Court Judge Lillian A. Clark hugs Charles County Commissioners President Murray D. Levy after taking her oath of office Tuesday. At right is Commissioner Wayne Cooper.At the beginning of their swearing-in ceremony, Charles County officials recite the Pledge of Allegiance. From left are County Commissioners President Murray D. Levy; Commissioners Wayne Cooper, Robert Fuller, W. Daniel Mayer and Al Smith; and Treasurer Jerome E. Peuler Jr.

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