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Vital Views
The Severna Park Voice, May 2006
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Council in Action
By Councilwoman Cathleen M Vitale
Bits and Pieces -- A Little Bit About A lot of Things
Well it's May, and that means budget month for the Anne Arundel County
Council. As most of you know, the County Council receives the budget
from the County Executive on May 1st each year. Prior to that time, we
have no idea what she (or he) is going to provide for to meet the needs
of the citizens of our County. Will money go into school construction?
What about roads (anyone driven College Parkway lately)? While I
anticipate a budget that provides for more than a billion dollars in
operating and capital expenses, the details will have to wait for the
June column. I know, I'm anxious to see if the projects and needs I
asked for on behalf of our citizens are funded, but the column is due
April 21 (although I am a bit late, it's the 24th), and the presses
won't wait until after the budget message. However, a few thoughts. On
May 8 (Chesapeake Arts Center) and May 10(Arundel Center, Annapolis),
public hearings will be held on the budget. At that time, public
testimony will be taken regarding any issue relating to budgetary items,
the tax rate and other accompanying budget bills. Of course, our regular
monthly meetings will continue on the 1st and 3rd Monday night to handle
the business of the Council.
Last month the Council passed the Scenic and Historic Roads Bill,
(sponsored by yours truly), a piece of legislation that dates back to
1997, when a list was created which designated various roads throughout
the County as either scenic, historic or both. The purpose of the
designation was to provide protection or preservation to the roads
against development, which would be inconsistent with the surrounding
area. There are approximately 14 points, which relate to scenic and
historic roads and development. They are listed in the County Code in
section 17-6-504. For example, if a road were so designated, structures
and roads would need to be designed to retain the open character of the
site and to minimize the impact of the development on views from the
road; development would have to minimize tree and vegetation removal and
protect existing vegetation adjacent to the road; entrance features
shall be low, open, and in keeping with the scenic or historic character
of the surrounding area and the development would need to preserve the
existing forest, tree canopy, foreground meadow, pasture, crop land, and
other natural screening and shall be designed to place development in
the background as viewed from the road. As a result of the legislation,
several roads in Severna Park, Arnold and Broadneck now hold this
designation.
The Council has also been working on legislation requiring the
establishment of a Veterans Commission. Many other counties already have
such legislation in place, and the council, spearheaded by Councilman
Middlebrooks, took up this important issue. With the status of
Crownsville up in the air, delegates, senators and council members
hoping to have a veterans home on a part of the property, and the
increasing number of retired military who call Anne Arundel County home,
the legislation was overdue and I am glad we are addressing this issue.
I would be remiss if I did not at least mention the Board of Education.
As many of you know, the Board is in the throws of a master facilities
utilization study. Each time the Board reviews the usage of County
schools, it sends shivers up the back of parents all over the County
regarding the prospect of redistricting. I want to thank the many
parents who took time away from their busy schedules to attend one of
the two meetings held by MGT which were "designed" to get our input as
parents and community stakeholders in the proposed plans. As of yet, I
have yet to hear their recommendations. It is my understanding that a
presentation will be made to the Board of Education on or about May
17th. That presentation will occur during an open, regularly scheduled
board meeting in which the public may attend. For many, myself included,
this may be the first opportunity to hear any specific suggestions
regarding the results of the study.
As a parent of a Folger McKinsey student, and past resident of Berrywood,
I can tell you that throughout my lifetime, the issue of which community
goes to which feeder system has always been discussed with some level of
anxiety. While I, and the other members of the Council do not have the
authority to pass or defeat any Board of Education decision regarding
redistricting, I can only tell you that we listening and engaged. I have
attended the meetings, scheduled special meetings with the Council so
that MGT can hear our concerns and communicated my desire to keep our
current feeder system alignment as it currently exists. I urge
interested parents to participate in the upcoming Board meetings and to
make your positions known to the members of the Board of Education. You
may find your specific representatives at www.aacps.org. I have found
them to be available and interested, each time I have presented them
with an issue or a problem.
So much for a bit of this and a bit of that. I will see you after
budget!. As always, feel free to communicate with me at cvitale@aacounty.org
or 410-544-4937.
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