On December 6, I was sworn in as the Baltimore County Councilman from the Fifth District, and this month I will complete my 100 days in office. I would like to thank the voters of the Fifth District for the confidence they placed in me.

Since December, I have spent much of my time meeting residents and business owners within the Fifth District, which stretches from Towson to Perry Hall. I established a Fifth District Community Advisory Council, started a monthly newsletter, and have attended on average five nightly meetings every week.  

My top priority is to steer Baltimore County through the recession without raising taxes and cutting critical services. The County Executive will present his FY 2012 budget to the Council in April; the County Council can only cut (not add) to the budget. County Executive Kevin Kamenetz has set the right tone by focusing on consolidating county agencies and putting more transactions on-line to save money.

Legislatively, I have been a principal sponsor for three bills. Bill 2-11 establishes a Baltimore County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to make our transportation network more accessible to all residents. Bill 3-11 reforms the Community Input Meeting process so development hearings are more accessible to affected neighborhoods. Bill 4-11 increases the maximum fine for graffiti-related offenses.

In the Towson area, I have focused on three priorities:  school overcrowding at Hampton Elementary and Stoneleigh Elementary Schools, and the revitalization of the Towson commercial district.

I am very happy that the County Executive has worked to fund the addition at Hampton Elementary School, and that he will support design money for an addition at Stoneleigh.   We need to plan ahead for new classroom space, which is why I suggested looking at vacant Archdiocese properties as an option.

Good things are happening in the heart of Towson core:  the renovation of the Investment Building, the new Towson Green neighborhood on Burke Avenue, new signage, and the Washington Avenue streetscape.   Towson Commons and the Towson Circle III project will also affect the pace of redevelopment. 

Little things can go a long way, which is why I asked the owners at 100 York Road to demolish the unsightly buildings north of Burke Avenue.   The Towson slogan contest can help brand this community.   

Looking ahead, I’ll be working to achieve consensus on the Towson Design Principles, which can help guide architectural standards for new development.  We also have a task force looking at the issue of student rentals.

In closing, let me again thank you for the opportunity to serve as your County Councilman.  I’ll continue to work in a bipartisan manner to advance the best interests of Towson.