This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Bel Air Fees, 2012 Budget Both Increased

Officer Wes Salvas is scheduled to be honored for a promotion.

The Board of Commissioners approved a number of fee increases and an addition of about $237,000 to the fiscal year 2012 budget at Monday's meeting.

Both resolutions were passed unanimously.

The commissioners also approved a resolution to allow the town Department of Economic Development to apply for about $125,000 worth of state grants for a revolving loan fund and facade improvements, both to benefit downtown businesses.

Find out what's happening in Bel Airwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Officer Wes Salvas received a promotion and Michael Feinber gave a presentation on the 2011 Bel Air Town Run. Feinber also announced that it would be his last year running the event.

7:58 p.m. The meeting is adjourned.

Find out what's happening in Bel Airwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

7:58 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for July 18 at 7:30 p.m.—not the first Monday in July. A work session will be held July 12.

7:57 p.m. Commissioner Edward Hopkins promoted safety in the communities, especially on the streets now that the students are out of school.

He said a 25 mph speed limit in most parts of town is there for a reason.

7:56 p.m. Public Announcements:

a. The movie “Star Wars:  The Clone Wars” will show on June 24 at dusk in Shamrock Park. Back to the Future, Part II will be shown on July 8.

b. The Peabody Ragtime Ensemble will perform in Shamrock Park June 26 at 7 p.m. and the Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition performs on July 6.

7:55 p.m. The board unanimously passed the resolution.

7:54 p.m. Heidenreich said the town would apply for a $75,000 grant to support a revolving loan fund that would benefit local business owners. She would also apply for $50,000 on behalf of the town for facade improvements to downtown businesses.

7:53 p.m. The town is now discussing a resolution that would allow the Department of Economic Development to apply for grants.

“It’s essentially the resolution that gives us permission to go ahead and apply to make a community legacy application to the state,” Director of Economic Development Trish Heidenreich said at Tuesday's work session. “It’s the standard resolution that is put before [the commissioners] every year.”

7:51 p.m. The fee increases have been approved as proposed.

The budget amendments have also been approved as proposed.

Both were passed unanimously.

7:50 p.m. The public hearing for this resolution also passed without comment. The commissioners were not required to hold a public hearing for either resolution, but chose to do so anyway.

7:46 p.m. Director of Finance Lisa Moody briefed the commissioners on potential changes to the fiscal year 2012 budget.

The general fund would increase by $186,752 and the special revenue fund would increase by $49,378 if the resolution is passed.

7:45 p.m. The town is discussing amendments to the town's fee schedule.

Among the changes would be cost of a curb cut for a driveway increasing from $15 to $50. Instead of charging the driveway work as a separate fee, it would be included in utility permits, which already cost $50.

A full recap of any fees that are changed will be provided afterward. Or click here and read for yourself.

The public hearing went by without comment.

7:42 p.m. "I just want to point out something, too. How well organized the race actually is," Hanley said.

7:41 p.m. Feinber announced that this will be his last year running the race because his daughter will be graduating the weekend of the race next year.

7:40 p.m. Commissioner Terence Hanley's daughter and son ran, as well as state Sen. Barry Glassman.

"Your daughter beat him and your son was just behind him," Feinber said to Hanley.

7:37 p.m. More than 1,500 runners finished the race after 1,883 registered, Feinber said.

7:36 p.m. Michael Feinber is giving a presentation on the details of the .

He is thanking the town Department of Public Works, the police, especially Cpl. Robert Pfarr and the town administration.

7:35 p.m. Salvas received a certificate of promotion and a gift certificate.

"I want to thank Wes for staying and Bel Air and making Bel Air his home," Matrangola said.

Salvas is originally from Maine. His parents, sister and fiance are in attendance. He lives within town limits.

7:34 p.m. Officer William “Wes” Salvas is a 2008 graduate of Goucher College and has served full-time in the Bel Air Police Department since December 2009. He worked in an internship program between Goucher and the department from October to December 2008, at which point he was hired as a cadet.

In June 2009 he was hired as a recruit until his graduation from the Police Academy Dec. 9 of that year.

Salvas has investigated 33 accidents and made 56 arrests including 19 juveniles and 11 drunk drivers.

7:32 p.m. "It tells me we've actually developed somebody from the ground up," Commissioner Edward Hopkins said. "I appreciate personally and professionally what you've done."

7:31 p.m. Officer Wes Salvas is being honored for a promotion to the rank of officer first class. He has been with the in some capacity since 2008.

7:30 p.m. The meeting has begun. .

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.