Community Corner

Bel Air Officials Vote Down $55K Pension Contribution

The Bel Air Board of Commissioners held its regularly scheduled town business meeting Monday.

Bel Air commissioners unanimously voted against a budget amendment that would have shifted $55,000 left in the 2013 fiscal year budget into the town employee pension funds.

Commissioner Robert Reier raised concerns about the transfer, saying he'd prefer the board spend a little more time looking at the overall health of the pension fund before moving forward with the amendment.

The pension fund for town police and general employees is funded by the employees, town economic director Lisa Moody explained. The fund trustees decided this year not to require employees to increase their contributions.

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While the pension fund did well this year, it is still below the ideal level. Moody said it would take more than $100,000 to restore the funds to ideal levels.

Reier said he felt moving taxpayer dollars to make up for the deficit is not a decision to make without more examination.

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"I just heard about it Tuesday," Reier said of the pension fund issue.

Commissioner David Carey said he felt the board would be willing to consider helping the health of the pension fund, in a more deliberate fashion and not at the last minute.

Each board member voted against the amendment.

Find timestamped updates from the meeting below:

8:31 p.m.: There are no commissioner comments and the meeting is adjourned.

8:19 p.m.: Tom Gray of 3 Golding Place says a storm water system in his neighborhood is problematic.

8:16 p.m.: Robertson said when the town installed the light at Gateway and Bolton it was discovered the town could replace traffic cameras and control wiring and circuitry to allow the town better ability to control traffic near the Harford Mall.

8:16 p.m.: Burdette moves to approve an about $10,000 at the Mall and Best Buy intersection at Bolton Street for the installation of traffic cameras.

8:15 p.m.: All vote in favor and the motion carries.

8:14 p.m.: A motion is made for a utility easement at 1007 Jackson Boulevard.

8:13 p.m.: All vote in favor and the motion carries.

8:12 p.m.: The area is near Ellendale, Robertson said.

8:12 p.m.: Commissioner Preston moves to approve a road improvement right of way easement for Williams Street.

8:11 p.m.: All vote in favor and the motion carries.

8:10 p.m.: Robertson said an easement is required for future improvements of roadway and sidewalks along Barnes Street. The area is one tenth of an acre.

8:09 p.m.: Commissioner Reier moves to approve a road improvement right of way easement on Barnes Street.

8:09 p.m.: All vote in favor and the motion carries.

8:08 p.m.: Goettner was the low bid, director of public works, Randy Robertson, said.

8:06 p.m.: Commissioner Susan Burdette moves to approve a contract with Frank J. Goettner Construction for $213,018 to resurface Maple View, Hayden Way, Hayden Court, Jessie Court, Ash Alley, Lee Way and Wilson Street.

8:06 p.m.: All vote in favor and the motion carries.

8:05 p.m.: Fiscal Year 2013 will be the final year with SB and Company, Moody said.

8:04 p.m.: Carey moves to award a contract to SB and Company for $16,986.

8:04 p.m.: All vote against the amendment and the motion fails.

8:03 p.m.: Commissioner Reier withdraws his amendment and Commissioner Carey rescinds his second.

8:02 p.m.: Commissioner Carey said he feels the board is willing to consider helping the health of the pension fund, but rather than last minute allocating extra funds to the pension fund, would rather consider the issue in a more deliberate manner.

8:01 p.m.: “I appreciate your viewpoint,” Reier said he is not prepared at this time to put that taxpayer money into the pension plan without further information and review. “I just heard about it Tuesday.”

8:00 p.m.: Moody said the town has given a one time lump sum in the past.

8:00 p.m.: “It wouldn’t be funding it 100 percent, it wouldn’t even be funding half of it,” Moody said.

7:59 p.m.: Commissioner Chris Shchlehr said this is not unheard of as the town has before agreed to increase their contribution, however it is correct that this type of thing is not in the pension plan.

7:58 p.m.: Commissioner Preston said he doesn’t understand why the town is suddenly changing the rules and helping with the pension fund as it is set up to be an employee contribution.

7:54 p.m.: Moody explains when the town received a report on the pension plan, they were told they need to put away more in the pension plan on both the civilian and police side. When the report was presented, the trustees decided to hold off and not require employees make additional contributions this fiscal year. It has done well this year, but to bring those two percentages up to current levels would require more than $100,000. Moody said staff felt it would be prudent to make this one time contribution so it will show on the annual evaluation of the pension fund.

7:52 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Reier moves to spend a little more time looking at the overall health of the pension fund before moving forward with the amendment by taking the $55,000 out of the reserve fund and moving it into the pension plan.

7:52 p.m.: Moody explains the general fund revenue will remain the same, but the town expenditures, insurance will decrease a net of $4,000, something that reflects an increase in workers comp and decrease in health insurance costs. Another proposed element of the budget amendment involves taking $55,000 out of the reserve fund and moving it into the town employee pension plan.

7:50 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Preston moves to approve a FY 13 budget amendment. Under the Bolton and Gateway traffic signal a reduction in expenditures is proposed to allow for savings on the project.

7:48 p.m.: Director of Finance Lisa Moody explains the town is partnering with a vendor to allow paperless billing to town residents for real estate taxes.

7:48 p.m.: Commissioner Susan Burdette moves to approve a credit card convenience fee and allow the town administrator to sign any documentation regarding this fee.

7:47 p.m.: The board unanimously votes in favor of approving the ordinance for receipt only. A public hearing will take place in the future.

7:45 p.m.: To reinforce the understanding that food trucks are not allowed on Main Street, staff recommends adding language prohibiting dealers on Main Street and Bond Street to enforce understanding with local businesses.

7:43 p.m.: Commissioner Robert Reier moves to amend the Bel Air town code chapter dealing with itinerant dealers, peddlers and solicitors. Krantz said the law passed in January defines itinerant dealer in general terms and raised the question if ice cream trucks are included. In order to remove confusion, specific language is being added to include ice cream trucks.

7:42 p.m.: Commissioner David Carey moves to approve the town fee schedule. All vote in favor and the motion carries.

7:42 p.m.: There is no public comment.

7:40 p.m.: Director of administration, Michael Krantz explains red light fees will be eliminated, clarification of open space fee schedule by removing the word “passive”, forest conservation fees will also be streamlined under this legislation and increase system development fees in accordance with the county fee.

7:39 p.m.: The town moves into a public hearing.

7:38 p.m.: “Twenty of his family members showed up to his graduation,” Chief Leo Matrangola said. “We really want to thank your family.”

7:34 p.m.: “Not everyone has one and we have five,” de facto mayor Edward Hopkins said of officers who have attended this prestigious academy.

7:33 p.m.: Marchesani is recognized for attending the FBI National Academy program.

7:32 p.m.: Sgt. Henry Marchesani is called to the podium for recognition.

7:31 p.m.: The meeting is called to order.

7:29 p.m.: All commissioners are present and in their seats at the dais.


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