Citizen Speaks Out Against Walmart to County Council

The Harford County Council approved one housekeeping bill Tuesday night and delayed another.

With Councilwoman Mary Ann Lisanti out of town, the other six council members also received introductions on three bills to be voted on at the July 12 meeting.

Two Harford Living Treasures were inducted, though neither was present.

The council also approved a number of appointments.

To the Harford Center Board of Directors:

• Rose Ann Eimer
• John C. Bowman
• Elwood J. DeHaven Jr.
• Eve Holbrook

Twenty-seven people were appointed to the Economic Development Advisory Board and 16 people were appointed to the Economic Development Tourism advisory Board.

In public comment, a Bel Air resident spoke out against to the intersection of Maryland Route 924 and Plumtree Road.

8:56 p.m. The meeting is adjourned.

8:54 p.m. She said she is concerned fire departments will not have easy access to neighborhoods.

8:53 p.m. "What would you need to see from us as citizens?" RhyMaun asked again.

Boniface said the issue is currently being handled by the Development Advisory Commission and that it does not fall under the council's power.

8:49 p.m. RhyMaun is also concerned about to the intersection of Maryland Route 924 and Plumtree Road. She wants to know what the council has to see and hear in order to take action on stopping the business from coming to town.

"I'm just wondering what's going to happen to the traffic when there's a Wegmans ... Walgreens and Walmart?" RhyMaun asked. "It appears that that many cars on 924 will trigger a State Highway Administration expansion of 924."

8:48 p.m. Ruth RhyMaun of the 200 block of Oak Valley is speaking during public comment.

She said she is concerned about the nighttime lighting around Bel Air that shines too brightly.

RhyMaun wants to know if it is possible to pass legislation to restrict nighttime lighting in residential areas.

8:42 p.m. During council member comments, council member James McMahan touted a three-day Veterans Day celebration slated for Nov. 10–12.

"It's going to be a fantastic time for all veterans," McMahan said.

He also commemorated , which is recognized Tuesday. 

8:37 p.m. Council President Billy Boniface acknowledged that Lisanti is out of town. The next meeting will be July 12. (This one isn't finished yet.)

8:36 p.m. Appointees to all three boards have been approved. Again, names will be posted later.

8:31 p.m. The council is now voting on appointments by Harford County Executive David Craig to the Harford Center Board of Directors, Economic Development Advisory Board and the Economic Development Tourism Advisory Board. Names of those appointed will be posted later.

8:29 p.m. Two residents were approved as Harford Living Treasures. One is County Councilman Chad Shrodes' great aunt Dorothy Glackin. The other is Earl Dennis.

Neither is present.

8:25 p.m. The council has unanimously approved the bill prohibiting discrimination on basis of familial status in the Discriminatory Practices Code.

They will wait until the July meeting to vote on the other bill.

8:24 p.m. The final bill is an emergency act that would provide Highway Capital Projects Fund to cover an increase in federal grant funding in fiscal year 2012 for the Ruffs Mill Road bridge project.

8:19 p.m. The next bill is very similar, but would provide money for general obligation bonds, instead of projects related specifically to water and sewer projects.

Harford County would be allowed to borrow, issue and sell as much as $28.6 million in bonds to be used for work on "certain projects as described in the annual budget."

8:15 p.m. Councilman Richard Slutzky is reading a trio of bills into the record for introduction. They will not be voted on tonight.

The first could allow Harford County governement, on its full faith and credit, to borrow and sell bonds up to about $19 million. The proceeds would be used for work on "certain water and sewer system projects."

8:07 p.m. The presentation has ended and the council is asking questions.

7:53 p.m. "We are truly honored to be in this area," the presenter said. "A lot of our partners are already here. ... We are truly looking forward to coming into this area."

7:42 p.m. There will be about 500 of the 1,000 people in the organization working on Aberdeen Proving Ground in Edgewood and Aberdeen.

7:41 p.m. "Our mission is to provide research development acquisition fielding and life cycle support ... to nuclear defense equipment, a presenter said. "Our job is to research an develop."

This presentation is at the request of Guthrie.

7:35 p.m. The BRAC-related Joint Program Executive Office out of Edgewood is presenting to the council to outline its mission and responsibilities.

7:32 p.m. For the opening prayer, Councilman Joe Woods read the firefighters prayer in honor of the upcoming fire convention this weekend.

He also recognized Mark Falkenhan, a Baltimore County firefighter who died January in the line of duty.

7:11 p.m. Councilman Dion Guthrie said Lisanti will not be here tonight because she is out of town.

7:08 p.m. The public hearing is complete with no speakers. There are a pair of bills up for vote Tuesday—both are considered housekeeping measures.

The first is an adjustment to a Maryland Emergency Management Assistance title to fall in line with federal regulations.

The second is an adjustment to the Discriminatory Practices Code, prohibiting discrimination based on familial status.

The legislative session will begin at 7:30 p.m. Councilwoman Mary Ann Lisanti is not in attendance.