Community Corner

LIVE BLOG: Greater Timonium Community Council June Meeting

Topics to be discussed include the new Lutherville Personal Physicians Facility, use of school facilities regulations, demise of the Pot Spring PUD, the Baltimore County Farmer's Market and more.

The meeting is coming to a close. Be sure to check back with Patch in the morning for further updates and full stories from the meeting. 

UPDATE (8:35 p.m.)—Rockel quells concerns about new rules to PUDs and their effects on Pot Spring. Short answer: They will have no effect. The PUD at Pot Spring was never brought before a vote in the County Council. 

UPDATE (8:30 p.m.)—Now talking about the PUD at Pot Spring. 

Find out what's happening in Lutherville-Timoniumwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

UPDATE (8:26 p.m.)—We're on to new business. The council is talking about the hot topic of school facilities use. 

UPDATE (8:20 p.m.)—A community member just admitted to visiting the facility last week. He offered one bit of criticism. 

Find out what's happening in Lutherville-Timoniumwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"You don't have any magazines," the man said. 

Lowe responded stating that it was intentional because magazines are germ carriers. 

The same community member also points out that the facility doesn't have a dermatologist. Lowe concedes the point, stating that there is a national shortage of dermatologists, though LPP does very much want one. 

He says there is a dermatologists at Mercy Medical's Overlea location. 

UPDATE (8:10 p.m.)— Lowe joked that he works in the frozen food section, a nod to the former tenant of the location, Giant Grocery Store. 

UPDATE (8:10 p.m.)—You can read more about the facility here

UPDATE (8:05 p.m.)—"Keep it simple. ... Care is being given in the community," Lowe said. 

UPDATE (8:03 p.m.)—Dr. Lowe is a Lutherville native, now speaking about the new medical facility. LPP is composed of 58 primary care doctors and is one of 17 locations in the Baltimore area. 

"We have the privilege of partnering with well established physicians within our community," Lowe said. "Just about all of them have been practicing the Baltimore County area for decades." 

The facility also has 40 specialists covering 25 specialties, as well as partnerships with the Weinberg Center for Women's Health and Medicine, The Center for Digestive Health and Liver Disease, The Heart Center at Lutherville and The Orthopedic Speciality Hospital at Lutherville.

"This is the wave of the future—organized, one-stop shopping," Lowe said. 

UPDATE (7:56 p.m.)—Up next is Dr. George Lowe, director of Lutherville Personal Physicians, which opened several weeks ago at the intersection of York and Ridgely roads. (Check Patch in the morning for the full story.) 

UPDATE (7:53 p.m.)—Brochin brings it back to his point, reaffirming his disapproval of the law. Earlier this evening he says he has the referendum in the trunk of his car. 

And that's a wrap on Brochin. 

UPDATE (7:50 p.m.)—No such luck. Here we go. Hearing sighs, seeing judging eyes. 

"We need these people to do the work," an audience member says.

"They don't pay taxes," another retorts. 

UPDATE (7:47 p.m.)—"We can debate this as long as the Senate did..." began Brochin, quelling what could've been a fiery conversation when another audience member brought up a counterpoint. 

UPDATE (7:41 p.m.)—Gloria Tosi, a neighborhood community leader, is now standing, making a statement about in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. 

"There are two elements that the state legislature should take a hard look at ... One are they numerous scrupulous immigration lawyers who live off these people. ...

"The second part of this is this underground that has been created by these young people, these young people who know how to make fake IDs. ... This is something that we keep perpetuating: fake IDs and unscrupulous lawyers," Tosi said. 

UPDATE (7:30 p.m.)—Brochin says it was wrong for the school board to go after teachers first when making cuts, when instead, they should've gone after administrators.

"We're not getting the answers we want. It's not a good feeling," Brochin said. 

Says he wants half of the school board elected. 

"I'm not here to tell you Joe Hairston is the worst superintendent ever ... but I believe in checks and balances," Brochin said. 

UPDATE (7:25 p.m.)—Brochin now taking questions. No surprise the first question is about legislators meeting with embattled public schools Superintendent Joe Hairston. 

UPDATE (7:23 p.m.)—"Am I the only moderate in this whole body," Brochin questioned of himself when an amendment to change language in the bill from gay marriage to civil unions failed 10-1 in committee. 

Brochin says he'll vote for the bill next year. The bill was killed in the House of Delegates by two votes this past session. 

UPDATE (7:20 p.m.)—Next issue up for discussion, gay marriage. Brochin was a pivotal vote in the legislative session. At first he opposed gay marriage, but he switched his opinion and believes gay couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples. 

"I started to question my own belief about what was the difference between a gay family and my family," Brochin said. 

UPDATE (7:15 p.m.)—Brochin says tuition for illegal immigrants is "preposterous." On a table at the front of the room, here at the Cockeysville Branch Library, four people have signed the referendum that associate regional editor Bryan P. Sears wrote about .  

"We just can't afford," Brochin said. He continued by questioning whether or not the bill would "reward bad behavior.

"I think it's bad legislation and I don't support it." For the uninitiated, Brochin is a Democrat, though he often crosses party lines in a politically split District 42. 

UPDATE (7:10 p.m.)—Brochin says one of the biggest things to happen in Annapolis this year was pension reform. Nutshell: You're contributing more out of the paycheck into your pension. Brochin follows up by talking about the alcohol tax. 

UPDATE (7:05 p.m.)—State Sen. Jim Brochin is recapping key issues and takeaways from the 2011 Legislative Session. 

UPDATE (7:03 p.m.)—Meeting is about to get under way. 

ORIGINAL—The Greater Timonium Community Council is scheduled tonight discuss topics ranging from the new Mercy Medical facility at York and Ridgely roads, the "demise" of the Pot Spring PUD, the ever controversial use of school facilities debate and more. 

The council's June meeting will also feature a General Assembly recap from State Sen. James Brochin, as well as his comments from a meeting with Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Joe Hairston. 

Patch will be present at the meeting and (hopefully) live blogging updates to the site. 

The meeting will start promptly at 7 p.m. at the Cockeysville Branch Library

From the GTCC website

Old Business:

  • Proposed Changes to the "Use of School Facilities" Regulations- ?
  • . What's next?
  • County Council Moves Forward with a Community Plan for part of Cockeysville

New Business:

  • Remember the Farmer's Market every Wednesday at the Fairgrounds
  • Police-Community Relations Update


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