Friday, April 26, 2013
Kamenetz: "It's my job to talk, your job to listen right now."
UPDATED (5:08 p.m.)—The groundbreaking of a new school in Mays Chapel sparked an angry outburst from County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Kamenetz was on hand Friday for the groundbreaking of a new 700-seat elementary school when he was faced by a group of nearly three-dozen protesters who oppose the school. At least one of the protesters can be heard in a video shot by WMAR television trying to interrupt Kamenetz before the county executive fires back. "Sir let me talk for a second, ok?" Kamenetz shouts back. "It's my job to talk and your job to listen right now." WBAL TV has additional coverage on its website. Don Mohler, a spokesman for Kamenetz, said the county executive became irritated after the protesters, who he described as senior …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
A 2012 college teaching position held by Councilman David Marks, while legal, should have triggered an amended financial disclosure report.
Baltimore County Councilman David Marks said Thursday that a 2012 teaching job at a local university should have been part of his required financial disclosures. Marks acknowledged the job and failure to file an amended report last year with the Baltimore County Ethics Commission during an interview. "It was an oversight," Marks, a Perry Hall Republican, said after being asked about the job. The undisclosed teaching job as well as two previously disclosed consulting positions do not appear to violate county law. Marks said the teaching job will appear in disclosure forms that he has already filed that will be made public next month. Following the interview, Marks issued a statement by email: "As soon I was offered a three-month teaching …
Monday, April 22, 2013
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and officials from DMS Development will announce a mixed-use project for Towson triangle area.
County Executive Kevin Kamemetz and representatives of DMS Development are expected to announce Tuesday a mixed residential-retail project for the area known as the Towson Triangle. The announcement will include a proposal for a planned unit development to include between 200 and 300 apartments and some retail space. Pending required approvals, the proposed $60 million project could be completed by 2018, according to a source with knowledge of the project who spoke on background because they were not authorized to discuss the project in advance of the announcement. The property is bordered by York Road, Towsontown Boulevard and West Burke Avenue. Don Mohler, a spokesman for the county executive, and David Schlachman, a principal with …
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Monday, April 15, 2013
The Baltimore County Coucil gives nonprofits a 48 percent discount that will be offset by residential property owners.
UPDATED (8:54 p.m.)—Nonprofits in Baltimore County will pay a lower stormwater management fee courtesy of residential property owners. The Baltimore County Council Monday approved new stormwater management fees by a vote of 5-2. Councilmen Todd Huff and David Marks voted against the amended bill. One of the main amendments adopted by the council reduced the fees that will be charged to nonprofits. Under the proposal submitted by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, nonprofits would have paid $36 dollars for every 2,000 square-feet of impervious surface. The council amended the bill to reduce that fee to $20—a 48 percent discount. To offset the reduction, the council voted to increase residential fees by $3. Under the newly approved bill, …
The Baltimore County executive praises county employees but asks employees to "stay the course" because the proposed budget contains no cost of living salary increases.
UPDATED (10:29 a.m.)—Baltimore County residents will not have to dig deeper for local taxes again this year under a budget proposed by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Kamenetz is expected to introduce his third county budget to the Baltimore County Council at 10 a.m. The proposed $2.8 billion operating budget will contain no increases in property or income taxes for the budget year that begins July 1. The county has not raised property taxes in 25 years. The county income tax rate has not been raised in 21 years. The council's Spending Affordabillity committee in January set the limit for ongoing costs subject to spending guidelines at $1.675 billion. Kamenetz said Monday that his plan meets the revised spending guideline. Kamenetz's …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The bill would impose fees on residents, businesses and nonprofits for federally mandated efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.
At least two members of the Baltimore County Council say they would like to delay a vote on proposed stormwater management fees. Vicki Almond and David Marks both said Tuesday they would like to delay the vote for a month. "Considering the enormity of all this and the information that we have I would personally like us to have a little more time to come up with some amendments and really study this even further," said Almond, a Reisterstown Democrat. "I think three weeks really isn't enough to digest all of this," Almond said, speaking of a briefing the council received last month. Almond added that County Executive Kevin Kamenetz developed the new fees without involving the council or holding any public meetings. The council, in its …
Friday, April 5, 2013
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz wants to sell the Towson Fire Station, North Point Government Center and the Randallstown police substation.
Baltimore County officials announced late Friday that it has received eight bids from groups interested in purchasing one of three properties placed on the market by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Kamenetz announced in December that he would seek bids on the Towson fire station, North Point Government Center and a police substation in Randallstown. "Government must look for new ways to address aging infrastructure needs while protecting taxpayer dollars," Kamenetz said in a statement released Friday afternoon. "As the proposals are reviewed in the coming months, I remain hopeful that there will be offers that allow us to replace aging County buildings at no cost or reduced cost to the taxpayer." The announcement of the sales have …
Monday, April 1, 2013
The resolution would have lowered fees for developers who seek waivers to open space requirements in county development law.
A resolution lowering fees for developers who want to bypass open space requirements for developments will not be voted on Monday night by the Baltimore County Council. The resolution to lower the fees was withdrawn after Council Chairman Tom Quirk raised questions about the proposal and its effect on open space programs in the county. "I was concerned it might have an unintended negative effect on NeighborSpace and wanted to look more at the [county's] analysis," Quirk said. "Open space programs and programs like NeighborSpace are critical to our quality of life and help increase property values, as well." County Executive Kevin Kamenetz asked for the decreases after saying a review of the county law showed that property values had …
Monday, March 25, 2013
County officials say the video conferencing technology will allow national chain license holders to attend hearings without the travel expenses.
The Baltimore County Board of Liquor License Commissioners held a hearing this morning using a technology that is not uncommon to most people in today's digital age. The hearing to change the name of corporate officers on a license for Scottsdale, AZ-based P.F. Chang's China Bistro was held via Skype. County officials said the hearing was the first time the board had used the technology in a hearing. Such hearings are routine and usually take less than 10 minutes. "This is a very business-friendly common sense accommodation that is effective for us and is particularly helpful for those popular national chain restaurants," Charles Klein, chairman of the county liquor board, said in a statement released by the county. The county did not …
Monday, March 18, 2013
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz seeks a reduction in fees charged to developers who want a waiver on open space.
UPDATED (10:07 p.m.)—Protesters will have to stay a little farther away from public and private schools if one Baltimore County Councilman gets his way. County Councilman Todd Huff, a Timonium Republican, introduced a bill Monday night that will require protesters to stay at least 300 feet from the entrance of a public or private elementary, middle or high school. Protests would be prohibited during school hours or within one hour before or after school hours. It would also be illegal to block or prevent the use of public streets, sidewalks or other spaces while protesting. Violators would be subject to a fine of $1,000 or up to a 90-day jail sentence or possibly both. "It's another layer of protecting our kids," Huff said. "That's it, the…
Hugo Cabret
8:42 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Might you feel differently if it were in you backyard, Geoffrey? more ›