Commentary and Goals: ECC Jan 2010 Agenda (By Jansen Robinson, Chair, ECC)

In 2010 the Edgewood Community Council will place a laser-like focus on two major areas- (Political and Economic Development) that play significant roles in improving our quality of life.

We will continue to address those social issues that affect our quality of life. But we can ill-afford to sit on the sidelines and complain about where we find ourselves, when WE possess the means to affect positive change.

The ECC will work with our local and state government representatives as well as such agencies as the Harford County Small and Disadvantaged Business Center to educate and engage our community about the potential that we already possess. At each of our meetings time will be set aside to discuss how to proceed in each of these areas.

The Edgewood Community has recently shown that when we work collectively (as we did in the the Prologics project), for the common good of our community-we can accomplish great things. Lets take that momentum into 2010.

POLITICAL Development: We want our elected officials to be partners in improving the quality of life in Edgewood. To ensure that we are part of the decision-making process means that we must strategically build our Political Clout. To do so we must take advantage of this political season to address the areas listed below.

2010 Census
Voter Registration
Candidates for the elected offices
Candidates for District A Board of Education

ECONOMIC Development- It does us no good to be Politically developed if we are economically disadvantaged. BRAC can have a significantly positive impact on our Community, if we get involved. The areas that we will pay particular attention to in 2010 are the following-because we can’t continue to expect the government to solve our problems.

BRAC and the Edgewood Community
Edgewood Master Plan
Small Business Development
Green Jobs Training Programs

There is an old adage that I think appropriate for where we find ourselves…”If we always do what we have always done— we will always get what we have always gotten.”- If we are not satisfied with where we find ourselves as a community and individually then we must do something strategically different.

Double Groundbreaking at APG
On December 14th Councilman Guthrie attended a Double Groundbreaking at Aberdeen Proving Ground for the GATE Project.  St. John Properties, in partnership with APG, is developing the Government and Technology Enterprise (GATE), a 2-3 million+ square feet, 400+ acres state-of-the-art research and development and technology business park for both government and non-government users.  This project will generate hundreds of excellent jobs.  Mr. Guthrie is very pleased with this project and will offer information regarding the progress of the construction as time allows.

Renter’s Proposal Meeting
Included in Councilman Guthrie’s always busy schedule is an upcoming meeting regarding renters of properties.  He plans to meet with Shawn Kingston, Director of the Harford County Housing Agency, Omar Simpson and Jansen Robinson, both very involved community constituents, to discuss the need for legislation to require owners to be responsible for their properties.  Any information that develops from this meeting will be shared with Mr. Guthrie’s constituents as soon as it is available.

Legislation in the Works
Bill No. 09-44 (Semiannual Annual Property Tax Service Charge) was introduced at the County Council’s December 1st meeting. This bill will eliminate any service charge associated with the submission of the annual property tax in semiannual installment payments by a property owner; and generally relating to semiannual property tax payments.

Bill No. 09-45 (Solar Energy Tax Credit) was introduced at the County Council’s December 1st meeting.  This bill will set an annual limit on amount of credits granted, of Section 123-44, credit for qualifying energy conservation devices, of Article II, Real Property Tax Credits, of Chapter 123, Finance and Taxation, of the Harford County Code, as amended; to provide for an increase in the tax credit amount as part of the energy initiative.

Bill No. 09-46 (Transportation Plan) was introduced at the County Council’s December 1st meeting.  This bill will provide for the adoption of the 2010 Transportation Plan as part of the Master Plan.  This is an important piece of legislation as, in part, it deals with the widening of Rt. 152 to which Councilman Guthrie is opposed.  Amendments will be introduced.

All three of these bills were up for Public Hearing last Tuesday, January 5, 2010, in the Council Chambers.

New Year, New Cheer
Councilman Guthrie would like to wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year and let’s hope the New Year will bring a better economy!

EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Edgewood Recreation and Community Center

1800 Brookside Drive, Edgewood, MD 21040

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Time: 7:00 PM

A. CALL TO ORDER 01 Minute

MOMENT OF SILENCE

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

B. Introduction/Acknowledgement 02 Minutes

Guests/Visitors/Potential Members

C. COUNCIL/Roll Call 01 Minute

Jansen Robinson Mike Jones Veronica Black

Bantam Miller Marlon Gittens Mizella White

Paula Mullis    Dean Main Yvonne Bennett

William McIntyre Mike German    Karla Simon

Robert Aim   s Pastor Sharon Porter Kecia Bell

D. SPECIAL PROJECT(S) UPDATES

1. Edgewood Newsletter………………………………………………………………… 02 Minutes

2. Community Identification Project……………………………………………….. 01 Minutes

3. ECC Youth Council…………………………………………………………………… 01 Minutes

4. Independence Day Celebration…………………………………………………. 02 Minutes

5. SHA Update……………………………………………………………………………….. 02 Minutes

E. SPECIAL PRESENTATION(S) & GOVT. UPDATES

1. Councilman Dion Guthrie………………………………………………………….. 10 Minutes

2. Harford County Sheriff’s Dept. 10 Minutes

3. Harford County Executive’s Office…………………………………………….. 05 Minutes

4. Dea Galloway (Boys & Girls Club – Edgewood Unit)…………………. 05 Minutes

F. COMMITTEE/SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATES

Youth Job Fair (Simom/German) ……….. 15 Minutes

G. RESIDENT CONCERNS ……….. 15 Minutes

H. OTHER/ANNOUNCEMENTS ………….. 05 Minutes

Seeking new members and committee Chairpersons

“Thanks to all of you who answered my survey. Your thoughts are important to me, and help me to clarify issues with my colleagues. So, I am pleased to present to you the results of the 2009 Opinion Survey.
We received a phenomenal 26.5% response rate – the highest ever. I take this as an indication of how dissatisfied people are with the status quo, and how desirous they are of making their opinions heard.

The respondents are, perhaps, primarily from my District 7, but many reside all over Maryland. Also, we do not cherry-pick – everyone who contacts me eventually gets on the email list – so, people on both sides of issues are represented in the data base. Please feel free to share this with others.”

The results were also sent to every member of the General Assembly, the Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, Treasurer, and the Dept. of Business and Economic Development. Comptroller Peter Franchot sent a reply and stated he “was especially interested in the responses regarding the lowering of taxes.”

What taxes do you believe the state should lower in order to stimulate the economy?

• Sales Tax – 110
• Income Tax – 66
• Property Tax – 60
• Gasoline Tax – 38
• Corporate Tax – 30
• All Taxes – 15
• Real Estate Transfer Tax – 13
• Tobacco Tax – 11
• None – 6
• Auto Tax – 5
• Clothing Tax – 4
• State Tax – 3
• Death Tax – 1
• Capital Gains – 1
• Employment Tax – 1
• Impact Fees – 1
• Luxury Tax – 1
• Energy Tax – 1

From Jansen Robinson, Chairman of the Edgewood Community Council.

On behalf of the Edgewood Community Council, I am requesting that you pursue county legislation that would require land lords to register their residential rental property with the Harford County Government prior to renting to perspective tenants, or renewing the leases of current tenants.

Furthermore, I am requesting that as a condition of renting any residential property that land lords be required to conduct criminal background checks on perspective tenants.

That land lords be required to authorize Harford County Government to enact similar provisions as applied to Section 8 housing voucher recipients.

That these rental units be subjected to random quality of life inspections to include lease enforcement and that the results of these inspections be provided to Harford County Government. The cost of such inspections shall be borne by the land lord.

That land lords be required to provide Harford County Government in a sworn affidavit that the landlord is in compliance with the Harford County Rental Property Ordinance.

That owners and managers of apartment complexes be required to comply with the same.

That land lords be held civilly liable for criminal activity committed by persons having rented residential property from them.