Maryland Board of Architects Business Meeting Minutes

February 25, 2026
11:00 a.m.

Google Meet Video and Call-in Information
To call in: Dial (US) +1 567-250-3071
PIN: 211 193 419#

Agenda

TIME:

11:00 AM

LOCATION:

100 S. Charles Street

3rd Floor Conference Room
Tower 1, Baltimore, MD 21201
Video Teleconferencing via: https://meet.google.com/tbt-uxif-gth Phone Number: (US) +1 567-250-3071 PIN: 211 193 419#

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Cynthia Shonaiya, Chair, RA
Paul Edmeades, RA
Douglas Polt, RA
Kevin Sneed, RA
Kuo Pao Lian, RA
Gretel Lott, CID
Casey Dawkins, PhD

STAFF PRESENT:

Zevi Thomas, Executive Director
Raquel Meyers, Assistant Executive Director
Matthew Venuti, Board Counsel
Noraida Lozano, Board Administrator

OTHER PRESENT:

Call to Order

Ms. Cynthia Shonaiya, Chair, called the Business Meeting of the Maryland Board of Architects to order at 11:03 a.m. virtually, via Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/tbt-uxif-gth, Phone Number: (US) +1 567-250-3071, PIN: 211 193 419#.

Approval of Minutes

The members reviewed the minutes of the Business Meeting held on January 28, 2026. Motion (I) was made by Mr. Edmeades, seconded by Mr. Dawkins, and unanimously carried by the Board to approve the minutes with corrections.

Complaint Committee Report

Mr. Dawkins presented the following report on behalf of the Complaint Committee:
03-AR-25 - Final Order has been posted. Recommended closure.
11-AR-25 - OAH Hearing scheduled for March 3, 2026
13-AR-25 - OAH Hearing scheduled for March 27, 2026. The settlement offer was presented to the respondent’s Attorney for review.
05-AR-26 – Follow up with the respondent for more information.
06-AR-26 – Waiting for response from the respondent.
07-AR-26 – Opened. Followed up with the respondent.
One conduct review – no update.
Motion (II) was made by Mr. Sneed, seconded by Mr. Edmeades, and carried by the Board to accept the Complaint Committee Report.

Review of Applications

Applications for the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE)

Mr. Edmeades presented the report for the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) and reciprocity applications.

There were ten (10) ARE applications administratively approved:

JAMERO, Samantha Kei RAMIREZ-GARCIA JR., Gustavo
KWAKYE-DANKWA, Maureen RODOWSKY, Robin
LE, Duong SPALDING, Esteban
MOSKO, Evan SWANSON, Jennifer
PLUGGE, Donald THOMPSON, Elizabeth

There were three (3) ARE applications approved by the Board:

ADVANI, Namrata HARRIGAN, Gavin
CRUZ-REYES, Alexander

Applications for Reciprocity

There was one (1) application for reciprocity approved by the Board:
TINNIN JR., Larry

Mr. Edmeades followed up regarding the three pending applications from the last meeting. Mr. Thomas confirmed they were resubmitted and included in the 10 applications administratively approved this month.

Motion (III) was made by Mr. Edmeades, seconded by Mr. Polt, and unanimously carried by the Board to approve thirteen (13) ARE applications and one (1) application for reciprocity.

Old Business

Pathways to Licensures Forum

Mr. Dawkins reported that the committee met with Ms. Patricia Ramallo, NCARB Assistant Vice-President of Outreach and Operations Programs, on February 11, 2026. During the meeting, the committee requested a list of eligible ARE candidates who have not yet obtained their licensure. They discussed reinstituting the cycle of events that the MD Board began with Morgan State University School of Architecture. They plan to contact Morgan State University SA+P to take the next steps.

New Business

Mr. Edmeades announced that on February 24, 2026, he received an email from the Governor's Appointments Office stating his term as a member of the MD State Board of Architects would not be renewed. Although the letter did not explicitly state it, he anticipates his 20-year term will be concluded on July 1, 2026.

Correspondence

Ms. Nickerson, AIA representative, explained that the first proposed amendment by Senator Cheryl Kagan to Senate Bill # SB0653 (§13-908) aims to ensure the seal on architectural documents matches the actual architectural seal, not the person submitting the document. Ms. Shonaiya agreed.

The second proposed amendment to Senate Bill #SB0653, “The State Board of Architects may create a portal to accept anonymous complaints regarding unlicensed architectural activities.”

Ms. Shonaiya asked Mr. Venuti whether the Board could act on an anonymous complaint. Mr. Venuti stated that the complaint forms currently require a signature and an affidavit attesting to the truth, under penalty of perjury. This gives complaints a higher credibility level, allowing investigations to proceed on firmer ground.

Ms. Nickerson asked if there is a way to include a name for credibility while ensuring it's not publicly disclosed. Mr. Venuti explained that it would fall under the Public Information Act. There's an exception to ongoing investigations, but the Board is not able to withhold it once the investigation is closed. Anonymity is only applicable during the investigation itself.

Mr. Thomas stated the Board can file a complaint on someone's behalf if it involves a potential Title Act violation. However, some complaints require the individual to provide an affidavit detailing the incident, which would necessitate their testimony. The Board's actions are limited to cases involving the Title Act or when it is specifically referred to as an argument within those cases. Regarding Mr. Lian's question whether anonymous complaints will expose the Board to potential liabilities, Mr. Venuti answered no. It is the Board's responsibility to act in good faith to protect public safety, welfare, and the practice of architecture. The Board will dismiss frivolous complaints.

Ms. Shonaiya alluded that, regardless of the appropriate terminology, this information is for the Board’s reference. The Board needs to determine if this aligns with current regulations, given its anonymous nature. However, Executive Director, Mr. Thomas, suggested a possible method for the board to proceed. The Board shall see how things unfold, and that's where it currently stands. As a member of the Complaint Committee, Mr. Dawkins expressed concerns about anonymous complaints, specifically the challenges the committee might encounter. Ms.Shonaiya agreed and suggested including specific information on the MD State Board of Architects' portal.

Mr. Thomas mentioned that complaint procedures and policies are uniform across all boards and commissions within the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. However, if the bill passes, the agency will need to comply with the requirements by making a web-available portal for such complaints.

Executive Director’s Report

Mr. Thomas shared with the Board that the Board for Professional Engineers met and discussed Senate SB0653 during the February meeting. The PE Board voted to be included in the proposed verification process for documents submitted to code officials. They would like the bill’s language expanded to include all professional engineers, as well as all design disciplines, not only architects. This may or may not happen this session, but that's their position.

Ms. Shonaiya followed up on the updates for NCARB's Regional Summit scheduled for March 20-21, 2026, in Oklahoma City. Mr. Thomas confirmed that the delegates should receive confirmation either from Region 2 or directly from NCARB. He will assist those who haven't received their confirmation.

Board Counsel’s Report

Mr. Venuti reported that the Landscape Architects' modernization bill appears likely to pass. The rewrite will, among other things, rename the Board from Examiners of Landscape Architects to the Board of Landscape Architects, as well as introduce an emeritus license status. The bill received third reading in the State Senate and will go before the full House in the next session. The Board for Land Surveyors sunset extension has also passed in both the House and Senate, awaiting the Governor’s signature to extend its Act to 2032.

Executive Session

Motion (IV) was made by Mr. Sneed, seconded by Mr. Dawkins, and unanimously carried by the Board to enter the Executive Session at 11:40 a.m., virtually via meet.google.com/sob-mouk-cop or by Phone (US) +1 801-878-4424 PIN: 171 444 900#. This session was permitted to be closed pursuant to General Provisions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, §3-305(b)(7) to discuss a complaint related to case 11-AR-25.

Motion (V) was made by Mr. Edmeades, seconded by Mr. Dawkins, and unanimously carried by the Board to reconvene its public meeting and leave the Executive Session at 11:57 a.m. virtually via meet.google.com/sob-mouk-cop or by Phone (US) +1 801-878-4424 PIN: 171 444 900#

Adjournment

There being no further business to discuss, Motion (VI) was made by Mr. Polt, seconded by Mr. Sneed, and unanimously carried by the Board to adjourn the meeting at 11:58 a.m.

The next Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.