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Vital Views
The Severna Park Voice, May 2005
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One Down, One to Go
by Councilwoman Cathleen M Vitale
Well it's that time of the year again. Time to clean out the closets,
put away your snow clothes and get ready for the flowers blooming,
children playing, and the coming of summer. Sounds quite good from where
I'm sitting today (which of course is at my desk staring at a beautiful
warm day, from inside my office instead of outside). April is also the
in one, out one month.
The State has concluded their session, and I am pleased to say that the
5th District did fairly well. No, that would not be accurate. The 5th
District did awesome. While not all that we had hoped for, this year,
Anne Arundel County's 5th district will receive funds that will insure
an infusion of funds for many projects that are near and dear to the
hearts of our residents.
Approved by the General Assembly will be $150,000.00 for the Community
Center; $100,000 for Kinder Park (for lighting); $100,000 for the Pascal
Youth and Family Services Center; and $500,000 for Bay Head Park (NIKE
site). That's a grand total of $850,000.00. To think, we have not gotten
to May, County matches have not been addressed and we are off to a good
start. I have thought a lot about the recent success, trying to insure
the same successes during our budget this month. I think I found the key
to the 5th district success.
On April 23rd, I found myself appearing before the House Appropriations
Committee. That is the committee that makes recommendations regarding
bond funding. It was my plan to testify on several bond bills pertaining
to our area, and apparently such was the plan of many of our residents.
In addition to representatives from the County, (who by the way, pledged
County funds for every local project that the State funds), our
residents were there carrying speeches, diagrams and story boards in
hand. They had taken time out of their own Saturday to appear on behalf
of our citizens to testify in support of local projects. Stream
restoration projects, parks, the community center all had people willing
to go before the committee and tell of our needs. Never before have I
seen such a turnout. Kudos to the entire group of you who sat on the
hard benches, hour after hour, waiting your turn. It worked, and we were
rewarded.
So, where does that take us? Well, if you ask me, it means a large
contingency of 5th district residents participating at the two County
Council Budget hearings on May 9th at Glen Burnie High School and May
11th at the Arundel Center, Annapolis. Both meetings are scheduled to
start at 7:00 p.m. and run until the last person testifies. I encourage
you to come defend a project, propose expenditures or highlight a
deficiency you find. No matter what the issue is, I truly believe that
it takes the leadership of all to have our voices heard. Remember, the
budget was introduced May 2nd. By now you should be able to get it on
line at www.aacounty.org. You will be able to see what the County
Executive is proposing for our area. Whether you agree or disagree, let
this year be the one where 5th district is heard! Look forward to seeing
you there. Remember, cvitale@aacounty.org and 410-544-4937.
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