Tag: Forest ordinance

Why can’t some people just be still? Your first half of the meeting run-down, February 13th edition.

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Our meeting starts off with a nice recognition of the Linganore High School football team. Billy votes against the whole agenda, so can’t he just leave now? We have four nice public commenters. Many are present to talk about the amendments to the Forest Ordinance Bill. Melanie Cox, of the League of Women Voters, also commends the council for putting the hearing concerning DRRAs back on the agenda. The league has researched this issue, and believes this bill is a good way to balance growth in our community.

Next up is a rather lengthly discussion from Carson Bise on impact fees. You can read the whole report if you like. Basically, elementary and high schools will be severely overcrowded by 2026-27 if we aren’t careful.

Most of the council members have thoughtful comments and questions, but not Kirby! He seems to want to argue over the cost of the study, then doesn’t. Then he tells us that WE should have planned better for all this growth!

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Is he actually admitting fault, or trying to pretend he hasn’t been on the board/council since 2010? He was a significant part of the “we” who should have done this hypothetical planning. Anyhoo, Kirby doesn’t think it’s much of a crisis yet. And, we have all these homes in the pipeline and all these homes were in the pipeline in the past, so all’s good?

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Billy wants to know if FCPS is going to redistrict the whole county any time soon, you know because that’s such an easy, uncomplicated process! So, Urbana folks don’t be surprised when Billy starts advocating that your kids be shipped up to Thurmont!

John Mathias, our esteemed county attorney, is here to make a presentation on the legal side of DRRAs. He explains their history, court cases, and implications for our county. He tells of a certain court case which ruled that you couldn’t change the type of development once vesting had occurred. Mostly because it isn’t fair to the people who already invested in said development. It seems as though Mr. Mathias was sent there to explain to some people how to do their job. More power to him! Tony has much to say, but we are to the point where his voice is just a buzzing noise, so you’ll have to figure all that out on your own.

Lastly, before the council breaks, Jessica and Tony introduce some amendments to the County Executive’s Forest Ordinance Bill. With input from the community they came up with some compromises. The amendments pass, with Billy and Kirby voting no. It will now go back to a public hearing.

Bud then moves to have his forest bill removed from consideration. He tells us that he wishes there was more discussion before hand, before he felt the need to write his own bill. He states that compromise is good for the community and the country. And, we would really like to know, Bud, when things all broke down. We are still perplexed and angry over all that’s gone down lately. Bill is removed with Billy abstaining and Kirby voting no.

The council then goes into closed session, we hear that more shenanigans went down with the DRAA hearing. Stay tuned!

Bottoms up! Please make sure you are seated before imbibing.

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so drunk
You better Jenkins, or you may end up in the hospital!

Lots of items on the agenda for tonight’s meeting so please make sure you are properly prepared with a comfy seat. As always, take care not to overindulge. The Yokels are not responsible for any damage you may do to your livers and we really do need you to be back again for the next meeting.

First up public comments. If no one shows up, drink some ginger ale. You are going to want to coat your stomach with a preventative liner.

Next are a bunch of budget amendments. When Billy complains that he still doesn’t have a budget analyst to help him read, throw back a flaming asshole. You know why.

Business items are up next. Three meetings worth of minutes need to be approved plus confirmations, bond authorizations and new workshop items. Someone is going to abstain so get ready to drink a mojito mocktail. 

Next up are first readings of four different items.  Forest resources, DRRA, APF for school construction are going to be discussed. We predict tempers will flair (the 3 usual suspects). This could go long, so pick your own personal favorite beverage to slowly sip during this portion of the meeting. We still have more to get through and you will want your wits about you.

A public hearing on bonds for Mount St. Mary’s University is up next. Mix up an Irish Catholic to set the mood.

Next a third reading on the Wood Waste Recycling bill. Are you still upright??? Time for a boozy affagato. You’ll need that espresso to help you stay awake for the rest of the meeting.

Take a break until 7. If the meeting ran until 7, and you don’t get a break, grab a glass of good old fashioned water. Your liver needs a break.

Next up a second reading on the Veteran’s Advisory Council.  You’ll want to mix up an American Spirit for this one.  Just drink it because we all support veterans.

I can’t believe there is still more, but next comes a public hearing on rezoning the Ballenger PUD. Throw back a I’m Ya Huckleberry when Billy asks a question someone has already answered.

We are almost done.  We just have to get through public and council member comments. Time to throw back a shot of C. This one is for your health.  Right????

Oops
Oops. Don’t say we didn’t warn you Smokey!

Some work was done! Your September 19th meeting round up!

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o1wqye9

 

Believe it or not, Shrelauter actually contributed something to the meeting this evening. Their ideas were even written down on actual paper! Don’t get too excited though, Billy still found time to behave like a jerk.

The meeting began very nicely by recognizing the Thurmont Little League. Still no peeps from the public. Billy votes against the budget adjustments and the meetings. The High Sheriff is in the house asking for the council to approve his department’s Mutual Aide Agreement with the City of Brunswick. After Tony points out some discrepancy in the language, it is passed 7-0. David Eder is then confirmed as the new Supervisor of Assessments.

The bulk of the meeting was focused on the initiatives to send to the State Delegation. Tony wants home-schooled kids to be able to participate in FCPS extra curricular activities. M.C. wants to first get input from the BOE. This point was agreed upon. We fear that Billy was a tad confused as to what qualifies as a local issue that the council should be dealing with, and what is a Maryland State issue that needs to be passed in Annapolis. Nevertheless, he has suggestions. He wants to take a law the state passed, that says retired military, over the age of 65 and who has lived in the same dwelling for 40 years can be exempt from property tax for 5 years, and make it a permanent credit. Jerry has some problems with this as he would rather do credits that are incentives or help people who are impoverished. He doesn’t like ranking one profession over another.  Kirby chimes in and says if we let Aurora buy the nursing home then we would already have the $500,000 that the county would lose in taxes should this be enacted.

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That’s about as relevant!

Billy has another suggestion. He wants builders who build affordable housing to be exempt from the Forest Ordinance that was talked about at the last workshop. What’s that Kirby?  Oh, man. Kirby says that he would exempt the entire county from the ordinance if it were up to him because we’ve only seen a net loss of 1300 acres of forest. So what’s the prob?

Billy also wants motor vehicle homes to be classified as tiny homes so people can get a tax break. Jerry wants the $250,000 requirement to get a liquor license eliminated. M.C. has a suggestion about supporting biosafety. Kirby wants us to know he has more coming (Zeus help us!), but for tonight he wants the state to give first year First Responders and teachers a $2500 credit for one year. Jessica wants to support any legislation that is passed by the Safe Harbor committee. And of course we heard some grumblings from our favorite pro-human trafficking advocate.  More legislative items will be introduced in the upcoming weeks.

Two First Readings also took place. Steven Horn was present to introduce a bill that would ensure that all recreational facilities and services that are to be placed in a development would stay in the development. Billy accuses Mr. Horn of playing God and wants to see some aerial photos. Billy very rudely makes a motion to have this bill removed from consideration, to which he is handily defeated. (Only his two other pro-developer buddies backed him up on this!) Billy keeps his comments to a dull roar when Tony introduces his rival wood chipping bill. Surely we will hear more come Second Reading time!

No post public comments! Council member comments, passed on by Tony and Kirby, focus mainly on the fair and other positive goings on. M.C. does warn us that there is a roving band of thieves from Florida breaking into women’s cars at parks and gyms to get to their purses. So take heed!

Next week a workshop is on the schedule.