News from Annapolis

Listening. Taking Action. Getting Results.

Plan Maryland Rally

Delegation Bill Hearing

December 13, 2011

Dear Friends,

Senator E. J. Pipkin and myself at the Plan Maryland Rally

Senator E. J. Pipkin and myself at the

Plan Maryland Rally in Annapolis

Yesterday, many Carroll County residents joined me and other elected officials from the rural counties of Maryland as we raised concerns about Plan Maryland. It was a great turn out. Fifteen counties from around the state have adopted resolutions to ask the Governor for more time to review Plan Maryland. Legislation to allow the Governor to draft the plan was in passed in 1974, and we believe that the plan should be vetted by the current Maryland Legislature.

Plan Maryland, in its current form, gives the Governor the ability to divert money from rural Maryland to more urban areas if the jurisdiction's growth plan does not "match up" with the state's plan. The process that Plan Maryland was developed allowed for little input from the regions that would be affected most, and many of the underlying assumptions for the basis of Plan Maryland have been challenged. Legislators and local officials have not yet seen the final plan but the Governor is already willing to implement it.

On behalf of the Carroll County Delegation, I wrote a letter to Governor O'Malley in early November asking for more time to discuss Plan Maryland. The Legislature should review and hold hearings regarding how this will affect our communities in addition to giving the final approval on any policy matter of this significance before it is implemented.

More information on the rally can be found in a Maryland Reporter article that can be read by clicking here on this link and more information on the Plan Maryland hearing can be read by clicking here on this link.

Carroll Delegation Bill Hearing

As a reminder, the Carroll County Delegation will be holding a hearing on proposed legislation today, Tuesday, December 13, at 7:00 p.m. The hearing will take place at the Carroll County Government Office Building, Room 003 (public hearing room).

2012 PROPOSED CARROLL COUNTY LEGISLATION

1. Carroll County - Public Facilities Bonds

2. Carroll County - Gaming (SB471/HB478 from 2011; requested by the Carroll County Volunteer Services Association)

3. Carroll County - Archery Safety Zone (requested by the Carroll County Sportsmen's Association)

4. Elections - Restoring the distance for electioneering at polling places to 100 feet (Carroll County Board of Elections)

5. Elections - Eliminating substitute members and making the Carroll County Board of Elections consist of five members (Carroll County Board of Elections).

6. Elections - Granting a second early voting location in Carroll County (Carroll County Board of Elections)

7. Carroll County - Property Tax Credit for Housing Units at Independent Living Retirement Communities (SB470/HB480 from 2011)

8. Public Schools Mentorship - to allow the Carroll County school system to waive the requirement for employers who take mentorship students to pay for their workers' compensation coverage while participating in the mentorship.

9. Legislative Bond Bill for Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley

10. Carroll County - County Commissioner Districts (Decennial Redistricting)

Interim Office Hours

Our office is open Mondays through Thursdays during the Legislative Interim.

Note from Susan:

I am dedicated to being your voice in Annapolis as we work toward better roads, schools and jobs, and also a reduced tax burden.
Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or ideas you may have. My legislative assistant, Jeffrey Peters, and I are always happy to help.