Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The Towson resident known for her school advocacy sees vulnerability in Todd Huff's land use decisions.
An education advocate from Towson is considering challenging Baltimore County Councilman Todd Huff in the 2014 election. Laurie Taylor-Mitchell said Wednesday that she has formed an exploratory group to look at a run for the 3rd District seat currently held by Huff. Taylor-Mitchell said she believes zoning made last August by Huff make the first-term Republican vulnerable to a challenge. She said she would likely make land preservation—an important issue in a district that is mostly rural—and school construction her primary focus if she decides to run. That decision is not expected to come before late spring or early summer, she said. During that time, Taylor-Mitchell will test the waters. She already had a campaign website and has created…
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Sentencing for the first-term Republican Councilman has been delayed until the end of the April.
UPDATE (3:51 p.m.)—Baltimore County Councilman Todd Huff will have to wait until April 30 to learn his sentence after pleading guilty to driving under the influence. Huff pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement for the Feb. 23 arrest. In return, prosecutors agreed to drop all other charges. Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Timothy J. Martin said he needs additional time to consider Huff's sentence. John Grason Turnbull III, Huff's defense attorney, is asking for probation before judgment. Chris Smith, a Harford County state's attorney assigned to prosecute the case, said probation before judgment is not appropriate in the case and is asking Martin for a sentence that could lead to the revocation of Huff's driver's license. Turnbull …
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. But Kamenetz's spending plan is larger than the limit set in January by the County Council's Spending Affordability Committee. That committee in January set the limit for ongoing costs subject to spending guidelines at $1.675 …
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 …
Monday, April 1, 2013
The bill, introduced last month, has come under fire for being unconstitutional.
A bill restricting protests near schools in Baltimore County will not get a hearing or a vote later this month. Councilman Todd Huff said Monday that he will withdraw the bill that bars protests within 300 feet of a school and prohibits protests within one hour before or after school starts and ends. It would have also been 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. The bill has been criticized since it was introduced two weeks ago. Huff was not available for an interview following a Monday evening Baltimore County Council meeting but confirmed he would withdraw the bill. "I'm pulling the …
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 …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The civil liberties organization says a bill designed to restrict protests near schools in Baltimore County violates the First Amendment.
A bill that would prohibit protests within 300 feet of any school in Baltimore County is being called offensive and unconstitutional by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland. "This bill is flagrantly unconstitutional and frankly offensive," said David Rocah, a staff attorney for the Baltimore-based civil liberties organization. "The idea that students need to be protected from political free speech is about as offensive an idea as I can think of. I think Councilman [Todd] Huff ought to be ashamed." The bill, introduced March 18 by Huff, a Timonium Republican, would prohibit any protests within 300 feet of any public or private school in Baltimore County. If passed, protests would be prohibited during school hours or within one …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Councilwoman Vicki Almond says the change will "protect residential areas from over-development."
The Baltimore County Council Monday night unanimously passed a bill banning development of some panhandle lots in the Greenspring-East Pikesville area. The bill, sponsored by Councilwoman Vicki Almond, bans panhandle lots of less than two acres. "Basically it helps to protect residential areas from over-development," Almond said during a March 12 hearing on the bill. The bill had the support of community groups including the Pikesville Greenspring Community Coalition. "There are a number of small areas of open space that could be accessed by panhandle driveways," said Neville Jacobs, immediate past-president of the group. Jacobs said the bill will ensure that small parcels will not be developed in ways that damage the character of the …
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…
Jake Mohorovic
9:13 pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Laurie Taylor-Mitchell was bring forth a positive campaign. Yet, Delegate Kach will be a strong candidate with name recognition having served in the House of Delegates since 1978 more ›