Huff: Council Surprised by Speed Camera Contract
The appearance of a new speed camera contract apparently came as a surprise to many council members Thursday night.
"We were all together at the (Maryland Association of Counties) conference when we heard about it last night," said Councilman Todd Huff, a Timonium Republican. "We all looked at each other in complete and total shock."
The council will hold a hearing on the contract next Tuesday. The contract with ACS State and Local Solutions would add seven new speed cameras to the current 15 and seven new red light cameras to the current eight within five months of council approval.
The county could also add an additional four cameras in the first five-year term of the contract.
The contractor would be paid about $6.2 million in the first five years. Two additional one-year extensions could bring the total compensation to about $9.1 million.
Huff spoke by phone while returning from Cambridge, MD Friday. He said he and his colleagues were unaware that the contract was scheduled to be brought to them next Tuesday until they began getting calls from reporters.
Huff and fellow Republican Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall resident, voted last year against a bill allowing the county to install an unlimited number of speed cameras.
"I haven't changed my view point on the cameras one bit," said Huff. "But I can't fight them any more. I just want to make sure that no general fund money, no taxpayer money funds that program. I want to make sure the program is not upside down."
Huff said his council office has been flooded with calls opposing the new contract.
"Nobody in my district wants them," said Huff. "(County Executive Kevin Kamenetz) isn't going to win any prizes for this deal."
Joan Wood
1:54 pm on Friday, January 6, 2012
I thought a big investigation was to take place to see if the County could come up with a better deal............what happened to that? wonder who is a friend of a friend to ACS State and Local Solutions???
I smell a rat............
Bryan P. Sears
3:45 pm on Friday, January 6, 2012
From a previous story, Joan: http://towson.patch.com/articles/speed-camera-support-grassroots-or-astroturf
Joan Wood
5:05 pm on Friday, January 6, 2012
Thanks Brian. I missed that article.........but did remember something about the County only collecting about .80 cents of every dollar. That's what I thought they were going to try to fix........and I don't believe for one second the people of Maryland like speed/red light cameras! Just one more way to collect $$$$$...........too bad the suppliers of the machines get most of it.
Josephine Hlatki
9:33 am on Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thanks for being on top of things, Bryan. Joan, even then, I wonder if the contractor for the cameras are Maryland based. So many contracts are from out of State. Have you noticed trucks around town, doing State or County work that have out of State Tags? Are we happy with Kamenetz, OWEMalley's buddy in Big Government yet?
ZIG
4:49 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2012
People in your district DO want them. Violations of trafic Laws are so rampant in Reisterston that serious injuries and deaths are on the way. This is not a question of money. It is childrens lives. This is the wrong topic to exploit for politic al capital.
Pat Crum
7:00 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2012
Does Councilman Todd Huff really exist?
lemmy winks
10:32 am on Sunday, January 8, 2012
Councilman Huff is inept and unresponsive. He is quoted as saying that he was "shocked" by the speed camera contract. Wasn't he similarly shocked by the "double dipping" pension exposed by the Sun. Why has he said or done nothing on that issue?? As for his character, he was seen (and overheard) at a Holiday party in Towson obnoxiously berating his staff, to the point that other party-goers had to intercede. Just the kind of elected official the County needs!
Pat Crum
3:14 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
Inept and unresponsive is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this Councilman. He responds to nothing sent to him nor does his staff. Let's hope he's only there for a short while. We do not need representatives like him in this area or any area.
K. Davis
4:14 pm on Thursday, January 12, 2012
I have always found his staff to be pleasant, responsive and helpful.
Annette
10:06 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
Thanks for this post.
Actually I don't understand the reaction on the appearance of a camera contract.
And Bryan, thanks for the given link as well. It was great to read some more info.
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