Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Councilman John Olszewski Sr. has previously abstained from votes because of his employment with an area contractor.
Councilman John Olszewski Sr. Tuesday said a failure to report a contracting job he has held for the past two years was "an oversight." Olszewski, a four-term Democrat from Dundalk, works for Mason and Son Contracting. Financial disclosure forms filed March 27 do not list the contractor as an employer. The contractor is also not listed in disclosures filed last spring for the 2011 calendar year. The disclosure form asks councilmembers to disclose any job for which they earned income outside their position with the county. "I thought that meant something else," said Olszewski, who works about 34 hours a week for the contractor. "I'm going to look into that and if I need to file an amended report I will." Olszewski has abstained from votes …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
A 2012 college teaching position held by Councilman David Marks, while legal, should have triggered an amended financial disclosure report.
Baltimore County Councilman David Marks said Thursday that a 2012 teaching job at a local university should have been part of his required financial disclosures. Marks acknowledged the job and failure to file an amended report last year with the Baltimore County Ethics Commission during an interview. "It was an oversight," Marks, a Perry Hall Republican, said after being asked about the job. The undisclosed teaching job as well as two previously disclosed consulting positions do not appear to violate county law. Marks said the teaching job will appear in disclosure forms that he has already filed that will be made public next month. Following the interview, Marks issued a statement by email: "As soon I was offered a three-month teaching …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and representatives of DMS Development unveiled plans Tuesday for a $60 million mixed-use development in downtown Towson.
A proposed $60 million mixed residential-retail development targeting college students is causing concern for the Towson community. "Historically, the community has been vocal against student housing off-campus," said Paul Hartman, president of the Greater Towson Council of Community Association. County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and representatives from DMS Development unveiled plans Tuesday for the development, called 101 York, at York Road and Burke Avenue that will include approximately 200 apartment units. It's not known at this point how many spots are available for businesses. The site, which is in the area known as the Towson Triangle, will feature parking for residents and retail customers. Hartman, who met with the developers on …
Monday, April 15, 2013
The Baltimore County Coucil gives nonprofits a 48 percent discount that will be offset by residential property owners.
UPDATED (8:54 p.m.)—Nonprofits in Baltimore County will pay a lower stormwater management fee courtesy of residential property owners. The Baltimore County Council Monday approved new stormwater management fees by a vote of 5-2. Councilmen Todd Huff and David Marks voted against the amended bill. One of the main amendments adopted by the council reduced the fees that will be charged to nonprofits. Under the proposal submitted by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, nonprofits would have paid $36 dollars for every 2,000 square-feet of impervious surface. The council amended the bill to reduce that fee to $20—a 48 percent discount. To offset the reduction, the council voted to increase residential fees by $3. Under the newly approved bill, …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The bill would impose fees on residents, businesses and nonprofits for federally mandated efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.
At least two members of the Baltimore County Council say they would like to delay a vote on proposed stormwater management fees. Vicki Almond and David Marks both said Tuesday they would like to delay the vote for a month. "Considering the enormity of all this and the information that we have I would personally like us to have a little more time to come up with some amendments and really study this even further," said Almond, a Reisterstown Democrat. "I think three weeks really isn't enough to digest all of this," Almond said, speaking of a briefing the council received last month. Almond added that County Executive Kevin Kamenetz developed the new fees without involving the council or holding any public meetings. The council, in its …
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Community leaders say they welcome county regulations that will improve the commercials areas that are the gateways to both neighborhoods.
The Baltimore County Council Monday unanimously approved a bill that seeks to add a more formal review of redevelopment efforts in the Baynesville and Hillendale communities. The bill, sponsored by Councilman David Marks, revises the boundaries of the Loch Raven Commercial Revitalization District borders. The county Design Review Panel is required review nonresidential development plans in the Loch Raven-Baynesville and Loch Raven-Hillendale sections of the revitalization district. "It's a very important area to the county and I do think that over some time it has been neglected, said Bob Kemp, president of the Hillendale Park Community Association. Nick Linehan, a member of the Loch Raven Community Assocation board, said he welcomes the …
A bill sponsored by Councilman David Marks corrects the unintended consequence of a zoning change made last fall.
The Baltimore County Council Monday unanimously approved a bill that corrects the unintended consequences of a zoning change that affected a Towson cemetery. The bill, sponsored by Councilman David Marks, retains the new open space zoning on the Prospect Hill Cemetery without putting it into conflict with adjacent commercial properties. Marks reduced the zoning on the property in August. Because of neighborhood common zoning laws, the change affected the nearby Towson City Center property. "So when the Prospect Hill Cemetery was downzoned, it changed the zoning to residential zoning," Marks said during a March 12 council work session. A planned restaurant for the property would not have been able to have outdoor seating, something Marks …
Monday, March 18, 2013
County Executive Kevin Kamenetz seeks a reduction in fees charged to developers who want a waiver on open space.
UPDATED (10:07 p.m.)—Protesters will have to stay a little farther away from public and private schools if one Baltimore County Councilman gets his way. County Councilman Todd Huff, a Timonium Republican, introduced a bill Monday night that will require protesters to stay at least 300 feet from the entrance of a public or private elementary, middle or high school. Protests would be prohibited during school hours or within one hour before or after school hours. It would also be illegal to block or prevent the use of public streets, sidewalks or other spaces while protesting. Violators would be subject to a fine of $1,000 or up to a 90-day jail sentence or possibly both. "It's another layer of protecting our kids," Huff said. "That's it, the…
Monday, March 11, 2013
The councilman said a community association would make future open space in the area, which suffered gas contamination, more amenable to a land preservation trust.
Councilman David Marks is recruiting members for a prospective Baynesville community association—in part to garner interest from NeighborSpace to preserve and maintain future open space. In spring, 16 homes in the 1600 blocks of Yakona Road will be razed as part of a settlement following more than 25 years of petroleum contamination from a nearby independently-owned Hess gas station. The demolition will result in a four-acre open space. Marks hopes the formation of a community association would make the open space more amenable to NeighborSpace, a land preservation trust. "In order for NeighborSpace to get interested in the project, they want to know there is neighborhood support behind it," Marks said. Marks is scoping interest along …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The legislation would also split the Loch Raven Commercial Revitalization District into three subareas.
County Councilman David Marks introduced legislation Tuesday night that would improve the design standards for new construction in the Loch Raven Commercial District, and break up the district into three sub-areas. "Community leaders have talked about reducing some of the visual clutter along Joppa Road and Loch Raven Boulevard for years, and now is the time to do it," Marks said in a statement. "When new construction occurs in these areas, it will be subject to tighter standards so we can hopefully have much more attractive buildings. We will have to live with new construction for 40 or 50 years, so let's make it look better." Under the proposed legislation, the district would be divided into Baynesville near Joppa Road and Loch Raven …
Buzz Beeler
12:41 am on Friday, May 10, 2013
Tina, competition! It's not their story and trust me they know. Their ratings are lower than the Limbo Rock and besides a minuet story on local TV news does not last for more than a minute in the eyes to the three viewers that watched it. more ›