Nearly a week after Election Night, provisional and absentee ballots re-elected Town Commissioners David Carey and Robert Preston over challenger Greg Adolph.
Final results announced Monday afternoon at Bel Air Town Hall included five absentee ballots and two provisional ballots. From those, Preston collected four votes and Carey gained six votes, while Adolph added none. Preston finished with 418 votes, Carey with 417 votes, and Adolph with 410.
Challengers Ricky Davis and Dave Mitchell picked up two votes each Monday, to give them 356 and 32 votes respectively. Steven Testerman, who dropped his campaign last month, finished with 11.
After Tuesday’s election, eight provisional ballots remained uncounted. The ballots are given to voters whose registration status is unclear, and are later verified by elections officials.
But six of the ballots were rejected; one voter could not be found in any state or local registration lists and five were found to be registered elsewhere, and did not meet the requirement to be registered in Bel Air 21 days before the election. The remaining two voters which were counted had been registered in the town but moved to a different address within town limits before the election.
Preston and Carey return to a board which will face serious budgetary issues this year. However, Preston said he will not seek another term as chairman of the five town commissioners, a position that carries the honorary title of “mayor.”
“It’s so time-consuming,” Preston said. “If asked to do it I would probably consider it, but it’s probably time to spend time with the family. It comes down to the time it takes…I’m looking forward to a bit of a break.”
Preston’s decision would seem to pave the way for Carey to take chairmanship over fellow commissioner Terry Hanley. Hanley supported Davis and Adolph’s candidacy, and their election would have created a majority bloc for him to take the position.
The commissioners, including Rob Reier and Ed Hopkins, will elect a chairman at their organizational meeting next Monday.
Carey and Hanley exchanged barbs throughout the election, and on Monday, Carey called the results a message to his fellow commissioner.
“I think what happened was Terry Hanley and his developer friends spent thousands of dollars to defeat Mr. Preston and myself, and it didn’t work,” Carey said.
Carey also rejected claims that he had brokered a deal to gain chairmanship, saying that he had only expressed interest in the position if Preston stepped down.
Hanley said Adolph and Davis’ defeat likely ends his hopes of becoming Bel Air’s “mayor.”
“I think we know how that works, majority rules,” he said. “With my support of the challengers, I don’t think I’m in line for that, let’s say.”
However, Hanley said he remains interested in seeking higher political office in next year’s countywide elections.
Preston spoke briefly with Adolph after the final results were announced, and both Preston and Carey said they would look to keep Adolph involved in town issues over the next few months.
Adolph said he has begun mulling participation in town commissions and increasing his volunteer activities, but said he hasn’t made any specific plans.
“Everyone can say hindsight is clearly 20/20, but I’m happy with the support I had,” he said. “I’m proud to have gone from five or six weeks ago being an unknown name to tying for the lead.”
Congratulations Rob and Dave.
There was one thing consistant between the Aberdeen and Bel Air election polls on The Dagger….they were wrong on both.
I hope the voters know what they are doing because now I have to suffer for your choices too.
Very concerned in Bel Air.I Don’t the marjority were in there right mind.
Very, very disappointed in the outcome of both elections. People here bitch and moan about change but are reluctant to do what it takes to move in that direction. Who knows, maybe by the next election, Bel Air will have 8 or 9 administrators making 6 digit salaries and the folks at English Country Manor won’t have to wonder where their red light money went. What a pathetic joke.
All I can say is that I hope that Preston and Carey got the message from the voters. An unknown should not have been close but he had an agenda that resonated with alot of voters, me included. Anyway, look for higher property taxes in the very next Town budget.
Is that the Town Seal that Carey was complaining about between his photo and Preston’s? I’m assuming the Dagger authorized this unofficial use of the Town Seal. Funny how things go around—
If you don’t understand the difference between the these two instances of usage, then you really never really understood the argument in the first place.
And it’s probably not the only thing you don’t understand.
Looks like a “clear violation” to me too. This is not official Town business, don’t try to spin it.
Wrong as usual, Becker.
“The fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.”
Dear God, man, it is a photo of two Bel Air Town Commissioners.
I don’t know where some of you people get what in your mind is logic and quite frankly it is scary.
“However, Hanley said he remains interested in seeking higher political office in next year’s countywide elections.”
Much the same as Martin O’Malley’s promotion to Annapolis was, in fact, a positive event for Baltimore City, Hanley’s rise above Bel Air politics could only be considered a positive for the town.
My condolences to the rest of the county.
agreed.
We’ll see how you feel when Carey and Preston vote in favor of promoting more employees to administrative positions with 6 figure salaries. And O’Malley might have screwed up the state but at least he’s not sitting in court at this very moment like his replacement is.
I would rather have the ineptly corrupt Dixon than the institutionally corrupt O’Malley. She’s just in it to see what she can get in her pocket today. He’s all about the money, power and glory, riding his father-in-law’s coattails to the top.
You can see a list of the people Dixon stole from in the court records. You can see a list of the people O’Malley steals from by opening the phone book.
I think what happened was Terry Hanley and his developer friends spent thousands of dollars to defeat Mr. Preston and myself, and it didn’t work,” Carey said.
I think Dave hit the nail on the head with that comment!
I find it really hard to believe you could actually spend “thousands of dollars” on one of these elections. Exactly what would you be spending it on?
Wow, twelve-year incumbent wins by 7 votes and insults the remaining voters.
Carey said, adding
that having both incumbents take the
election as opposed to Hanley’s picks
shows how smart the voters of Bel Air
are.
Get Real
Your interpretation of what the margin victory may justify maybe correct. But it cannot go unnoticed that every vote counts. The voter turnout was at best, poor. Would a larger turnout have changed the results, don’t know? I do know that those who voted are the only ones who should comment on the election’s outcome.
Election side notes from the past…Doug Wilson became mayor of Aberdeen by 1 vote. Gina Bantum became a councilperson in Aberdeen by 3 votes. My friend, the late John Arnick, after being in the House of Delegate for over 20 years won a primary election by 6 votes. In the general election John won by a landslide, 15 votes. In the primary and general over 90,000 votes were cast.
Thanks, Delegate Riley. At last somebody addressed the 800-pound gorilla in the room. A 12% turnout.
A couple of simple questions for all of those who are complaining about the election results:
How many doors did you knock on to get out the vote for your preferred candidate?
How many registered voters did you bring to the polls with you?
A group of like-minded voters from a single street in Major’s Choice could have swung the results of this election. Before we cover the incumbents in righteous indignation, let’s spend a little time on introspection.
I warned those here weeks ago that small blocs of votes would settle this thing.
So, again, what did YOU do?
I had a wise social studies teacher who told us if you don’t vote and are eligible to vote. Then you have no right to complain about the results!
Cdev –
You may have learned something from your social studies teacher, but apparently your English/grammar teacher didn’t do quite so well…
Correct written communication is not my strong point; however it is considered very poor form to simply point it out when you can understand the post. Additionally if we nit pick, you only use one period at the end of a sentence.
Cdev – I agree with you about the nitpicking.
Joe
Dave Carey is one of the best commissioners the town of Bel Air has ever seen. His commitment to be involved and work to make the town a great place to live and raise kids is truly admirable.
The actions of Terry Hanley during this election was despicable. He does not have the best interest of the town at heart. His only interest is seeking higher office which is pure ego. God help Harford County if he runs for County Executive and wins.
Your argument that Mr. Hanley’s only interest is in running for higher office is disingenuous at best, since Mr. Carey has tried running for higher office twice (lost both times) and is expected to run again.
For what it’s worth, Carey said pretty emphatically during the Bel Air candidates forum that “it’s not in the cards” for him to seek higher office again.
In case you don’t believe him or want to hold him to that quote, there is video evidence here:
http://www.daggerpress.com/2009/10/27/bel-air-candidates-forum-draws-questions-on-budget-parking-traffic/
It was Preston who said he runs one race at a time and is “keeping his options open” regarding any pursuit of higher elected office.
Preston only wants to run for Registar of Wills. Why? It’s a do-nothing position, I guess. But that’s what he’s gonna go for – mark my words……
Carey would run for chief douche if he could, cuz he’d win by a landslide!!!
I’d like to know what was despicable. I’d want to know before I cast another vote for Hanley.
As far as Dave making the Town a great place to raise kids, Dave doesn’t have kids so he has no perspective in that arena. As for committment to be involved, Hanley is almost everywhere, all the time, at PTA, rec games, library foundation, etc, etc, etc. while Dave stays away from that kind of stuff.
When you get your tax bill next year and the check you write is bigger than this year, even though your house is worth less, make sure you thank Dave.
Terry Hanley actively campaign for candidates in this race so that he could have enough votes for the Chairmanship, a title that he would use to launch his campaign for County Executive or County Council.
In each election that Dave Care has run for it was in the interest of the residents in his district, not to run just for the sake of running or having a title. The town of Bel Air is lucky to have Dave!
Katie, wow, you are solidly behind your man. Carey wants to remain in the political arena but he has to be content with being a lowly Town Commissioner since all his other efforts to achieve higher office have failed. Please tell us how it is that the residents of Bel Air are “lucky” to have Dave. Be specific, don’t just spout off generalities such as “his work to make the town a great place to live is truly admirable”. How has he worked to make Bel Air a great place to live? I’m sure it is great for the administrators making six figures that he condoned. Heck, I’d think it was great too. He’s already smearing Hanley and being smug and arrogant again. Um, he only beat Mr. Adolph by 7 votes, nothing to be proud of.
Rachel- Is that you?
Terry Hanley no matter what happens will always be a “used car salesman”
Yeah and a really good one too…
Do you want to talk about some of the people Dave Carey has defended in court??
Talking about me?
Well, based on his editorial in The Aegis, he could stand to learn the difference between ‘theory’ and ‘ideology’.
Unintended consequences… funny how things work out.
As I walked up to the town hall to vote, I saw the throng of sign-wavers and was ready to ask them if they realized that if I was making the effort to vote, I probably had already made up my mind. Then I saw the big signs for Adolph and Davis supporting the traffic light and denouncing the MacPhail road extension. Hmmm. I was ready to throw the bums out and welcome fresh blood to the town commission, but I disagreed with the new guys on both of these issues.
I looked to my left at the obsolete, undersized town hall and remembered that they were against a new one. The incumbents voted for it. Hmmm.
Then, as I walked on, I was suddenly blinded by the cheezy grin plastered on the face of Mr. Terence O. Hanley, masterfully guiding the campaigns of his young proteges to the very end. His master plan to regain the mayorship (actually, simply the chairman of the board of commissioners with the honorary title of Mayor, but it makes him feel oh so good) was almost complete. That was the sign I needed!
As I genuflected and passed the Big Man himself near the border of the no-politicking zone, I realized that the last minute jockeying did have an effect. Thanks to their hard work, I breezed through the doors, checked in, and without hesitation cast my ballot for four more years of the same old same old.
Now I have to do my part to ride them hard to keep the small town salaries small town sized.
I will also do my part to keep the budget in check but am resigned to the fact that Carey and Preston will raise property tax revenues thru the constant yield and spin the fact they didn’t raise the tax rate.
As for your statement that you had “probably made up your mind” and then changed it doesn’t ring true. The challengers had made no secret of the fact they were against $5 million for Town Hall, or the MacPhail extension or supported the traffic light so either you weren’t paying attention or are using that to justify keeping Carey and Preston.
As for Hanley, I’m not convinced that the chairmanship was the goal, I think he wants a bigger voice in the discussion of how the Town spends its money, something he hasn’t had in 2 years, something he and the challengers were going to address aggressively. The chairman job, particularly for the next couple of years, is going to be the lightning rod for taxpayer disgust over spending and the $100k salaries and if it were me I wouldn’t want it- no upside.
I’d look at the “10 point plan” Hanley developed and the challengers adopted as their agenda. In 4 years see how many salaries are over $100k and how much more in taxes you pay. Then think about the fact that you and people like you voted against any changes- because of a personality you didn’t like?
Face it- your mind was made up when you got to the polls, like the other 11.9% were, so don’t justify your vote decision on anyone or anything at the polls.
Tell the truth Phil. You’d have been the only one that changed their mind because of something or anything at the polls.
Like it or not, the one thing you overlook is the fact that Hanley took an unknown, campaigned for him and came within 7 votes of unseating a 12 year incumbent, with a pathetic voter turnout. Something made those voters vote against the incumbents and for a challenger, in large numbers relative to the turn out. You might not like him but in this election that was impressive.
Good luck keeping the budget spending in check. I’ll be watching next spring to see how hard you “ride” them.
The truth? I called my wife and told her that I was stopping to vote so I would be a little late. She asked me why I was bothering to since it’s just for town positions. I replied that since there’s such a small turnout, I could help get rid of some folks who have been there too long.
I was doing my best to ignore the differences in issues and just vote out whoever was in office. That changed on the sidewalk outside.
Actually, as I look back, I have some doubts about the sincerity of the challengers. On the surface, this seems like it could be nothing more than an almost Clintonian, purely poll-driven campaign, this time orchestrated by someone with ulterior motives. It’s been reported that Hanley told them what issues they should run on, and his favorite phrase has always been “it’s what the people want” (besides anything with the word “Mayor”).
This is just my opinion, but it sure looks like a case of telling the people exactly what they want to hear to get elected. They could be totally honest and actually believe all they said, which is likely true, but they took their chances by handing the reins over to Hanley, and when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
I’d still want you to look at the “10 point” issues. I don’t know for sure if they were Hanleys or not, but at least it was an agenda with actual goals, something the Commissioners could be measured against. How long do we keep having to re-hash issues before someone can make a decision and move on? For instance, there is no way that anyone is going to get money to renovate the old Bel Air Elem school, or find a user, so why are we content just to let it sit there and become a bigger liability?
As far as saying what the voters wanted to hear to get elected, Preston avoided the issue of the Register of Wills position he is going to run for next fall. He also said that he has been a proponent of the MacPhail extension but changed that about 2 weeks before the election. Carey does that sort of thing for a living, so do you really know what he means when he says anything?
I don’t get the feeling the challengers were going to be lap dogs by any means, and if they got fleas you could always get them dipped.
Your vote, while personally satisfying, just ensured that there won’t be any substantive resolution to the budget issues, so thanks for looking at the “big picture”.
I am with Becker, I want to see exactly how hard you “ride” the spending and salaries. Have you even got a copy of the complete budget? I’m sure Hanley would provide one for you to review, and it will make you sick.
All politics aside, it was great to see Greg Adolph, hoisted on Terry’s shoulders, go from unknown to power player in a few short weeks. But, the Department of Fiscal Responsability made some hay, here and other places, with what really were “non-issues.”
If I may, I have looked into the “10 point” plan that was presented by Adolph/Davis (read “Hanley), and found it wanting.
1) Everybody wants to maintain level of service- Revolutionary!
2) See #1. How do you make substantive cuts in the payroll without cutting positions, ergo reducing the level of service?
3) Dead on the vine, even before election day. AS I PREDICTED!
4) gobbledeegook. Meaningless politician-speak.
5) and 6) Every sector of the government took substantial cuts in FY10. Why shouldn’t P&R and the VFD share in the sacrifice?
7) This was the biggest “red herring” among all of the campaign issues. The macPhail Rd cut-through has been in the Comprehensive Planning SINCE THE 60’s! The biggest stumbling block? The Bd of Ed OWNS the property. No Bd of Ed approval, no road. Simple…
8) Which costs more, leaving the building derelict or paying the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS to just do the asbestos removal, nevermind the demolition?
9) There’s one of those big figure salaries already at work. The Town employs a full-time director of economic development. Do you think she works for minimum wage?
10) It is a MONEY issue. How can we continue to call for cuts, cuts, cuts, and drop $180,000 for this unnecessary traffic light?
#9)I believe that position pays about $75k. Hows that?
Dell- let’s not do anything and just raise taxes. The question is really one of efficiency. If you have a department or employee that is not producing measurable results, what would you do? More raises?
The Dept of Econ Dev is a joke. Name 1 business that has been recruited or retained in the Town solely due to the efforts of this department. They get $200k in salaries a year and for what- the pedestrian connection to the mall? You’re going to park at the Mall walk to Main St then walk back?
I think the Board of Ed would be responsible for removal of the old Gordon street building, the Town has been standing in the way.
I think they meant to remove MacPhail Rd from the comp plan.
Maybe P&R and BAVFC should share in the sacrifice but the sacrifice wasn’t going to be shared equally across all departments.
As I understand it the Town rejected an offer from the developer on Gateway that would have installed the traffic light, paid for sewer improvements and increased the tax base at no cost to the Town. Instead the Town decides to spend the money themselves and forego the tax base. Keep paying those salaries- we’re getting our monies worth.
Common ground, common ground! I agree that Econ Dev as a department of the Town gov’t is ridiculous.
Wouldn’t it be simpler, and more cost effective to boot, to offer tax incentives to new business as a means to advertise the Town is business friendly?
I believe you’re mistaken, however, about Gordon Street. It’s my understanding this albatross is now squarely around our necks.
As far as MacPhail goes, the rub is when and if the John Archer project is added to the existing Middle School property, there has to be ingress/egress toward Atwood Rd due to the nature of the special needs students attending there. At some point, there will be a road back there, it’s only a question of where and how.
If Homestead/Wakefield was remodeled and consolidated at the bottom of the hill, the cross traffic problem would go away.
And , lastly, I understand the whole attempt by the developer to fund the light at Gateway. That is now gone. My question remains, where will the money to construct the light come from?
Dell- Ok, ok. Generally agree. I still think (but don’t know) that the Town is the roadblock on Gordon. As for the traffic light, open the discussion again. it is not like there shouldn’t be any dialog to resolve. It should be win-win for all.
My feeling is that we’ve let the pay exceed the qualifications necessary to do the job. The only ones whose pay could be duplicated in the private sector are finance and town administrator(and only because he has a PE).
These department head jobs are essentially mid-level management jobs requiring no special skills but the argument has become a “reduction in service”. Dump all the department heads, give the title to the #2 and let the people on the street continue to do their jobs. I’d bet my last dollar you’d never know the difference besides a change in attitude and you’d save $300-400k.
Here is one for you- at lunch today I was listening to a conversation at an adjacent table. Everyone wants public safety and the point was being made that we respond 40% of the calls that either Aber or HdG get, and our cost is 50% higher per call than theirs. Made me look at the police budget request for 2010. We have 2 staff for every poilce officer. Doing what?
Efficiency may mean payroll adjustments but doesn’t have to mean reductions in service.
Dell- the Town should be looking at low interest bonds/financing as well as tax incentives to make business want to locate in Town. Now is the perfect time to do it.
Preston is a great example. (I don’t agree w/ his political decisions) His store has been around for 80+ years, Staples moves in w/ lower prices and more selection and the customers stop going to his store. Same thing has been happening on Main St for years, the staff has made it too difficult/expensive for businesses to want to expand or relocate here.
Economic Development occurs because of policy, not because of a Department trying to make it happen. Every project can be tweaked to make everyone happy.
Now we’re getting somewhere!
It seems like a simple fix to promote all of the number 2’s to the Department Head positions. Big salary savings and all.
Only problem is, the #2 folks behind the #1 folks are mostly at or near the top of their respective scales, which, if it follows that there is an average of $15,000 difference between the salaries, x 5 department heads, that only gives you a $75,000 savings.
As far as the PD goes, I’d have to see where the number of calls from HdGPD and Aberdeen PD are 2.5 times greater than in the Town. I find that a little hard to believe. And, to the “2 staff per each officer,” what do you consider “staff?”
I agree with all of your suggestions vis a vis attracting business. Everything should be on the table to fill the vacancies on Main Street, and in the shopping centers.
As much as it pains me to agree with the Aegis, a traffic light at Gateway would be a disaster – yes, an even bigger disaster than doing nothing – especially during the Christmas season. It would be impossible to time all of the lights on Boulton Street to have any kind of decent traffic flow. There would simply be too many lights in too short of a distance. Some other configuration needs to be designed to accomodate the Gateway traffic.
Hey Phil, doesn’t it seem more practical to put an island there at the intersection, forcing southbound traffic on Gateway into a “right turn only situation there? I know things back up during the holidays, but, if the light at Tollgate was timed properly, I think it’d keep things moving…
Dell- I was suggesting eliminating the positions altogether. The #2’s stay at their current salaries. I don’t think there is enough actual work to support all the payroll. They have created more work than actually benefits anyone.
Just on population alone Hdg has 35 sworn 10 staff for 14,500 resiudents, BA has 33 sworn 17 staff for 10,500, then consider the types of calls each gets. I don’t know if the call # is right but officers/person doesn’t add up. I’d like to find out as well, will you going to make the contact and post the info?
Best solution at Gateway is a circle where the light is now and move the light to Gateway where it should have been originally. Mall will bitch and moan and I doubt the Town has the balls to do it anyway. The timing really shouldn’t be an issue except it needs to be managed, and there is really only 4-6 weeks where the traffic is a problem. The bigger problem is that the Town has approved the expansion and renovations at the Mall (which look great) but the Mall is still significantly below the parking requirement specified in the Town regs. The problem is really that the parking lots are jammed backing traffic onto the road, not the road itself.
Dell, that’s exactly the kind of idea they need to try. Not every intersection needs to be a full light. I didn’t think of that for this situation, but I’ve always thought they should have done that at a few of the Route 24 intersections. Way too many lights and traffic delays for the big highway that was supposed to be such a timesaver. If you want to make a left or go straight across, take Tollgate or 924 to the next intersection with a light.
“Now I have to do my part to ride them hard to keep the small town salaries small town sized.”
Phil- you just voted for the same regime that thinks those salaries are appropriate and now you expect that “riding them hard” is going to change something? Exactly how is that going to happen? Your logic makes no sense at all. Stop blaming Hanley for your decision, if you wanted the salaries “small town sized” you should have voted for Hanley, you won’t see them reduced for the next 4 years.
Saddle up cowboy, start the “ride”, stop talking about what you’ve done or why you did it. Good luck- I’ll be watching too.
So I should have voted for the folks with whom I disagree on every issue that they raised? Now THAT makes a lot of sense!
You said your decision was made at the polls, not because you disagreed with “every issue” but because of Hanley. It sounds like you really hadn’t looked into the candidate positions that thoughtfully but you should be consistent in your vote explanation at the very least.
I don’t care either way, the fact that Adolph got close says more about the strength of Carey and Preston than anything else. Maybe they will change their MO. We’ll soon see.
While our police department certainly could use a little more space, why on Earth do we need an entirely new town hall? Nobody goes to the meetings anyway. The last one that I attended had more Commissioners than citizens. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the town own Rockfield Manor? You know, the highly subsidized building that only seems to have private or exclusive events? Let’s sell Rockfield before we buy into the need for an entirely new Town Hall. Oh yeah, while we’re at it, do we remember our fearless leaders proclaiming that the town’s red light cameras were only put in place for safety reasons, and that they were not a significant source of income? Do we then remember one of the cited reasons for the sewer fee increase (tax hike) was because revenues for the red light cameras were down? When is the next election?
Frustrated,
In your comment,8.1, you ask how can one spend “thousands of dollars on elections like these”? Answer maybe “money talks and bullshit walks”. Usually, but not always, the candidate that has the most campaign funds wins. This brings to light an important question, should we realistically look at our campaign laws at all levels of government. I do believe many good, honest, everyday people are shut out of the political arena because they cannot raise the funds to run an effective campaign.
May be a good idea but way too cumbersome to administer at the municipal level.
Frustrated,
Campaign reform can begin by doing the following-
Shorten the campaign season. Signs go up a few weeks before the election and come down a week after the election. All candidates take a pledge not to tamper or remove another candidate’s signs. There should be a fine, say $250, for the person/or their supporters violating the pledge.
Limit the amount of money each candidate can spend including in-kind contributions.
List publicly the candidate’s contributors.
Should be at least 2 public forums, much like the forum the Dagger was a part of and sponsored by non-political groups.
Maybe the town commissioners can set up a committee to make recommendations to improve the manner in which candidates run an election and at the same time encourage increased voter participation.
Your thoughts…
I’m not disagreeing with your stance, it is a practical matter for me. The Town pays too much for the staff it has and can’t manage the issues it has with the staff it has. I don’t see they are going to manage any additional regulation. I’d probably feel differently if more than 12% showed up at the polls or people actually collected that much contribution money to actually disclose.
Dell said the town employs a full time Director of Economic Development. Do all of the municipalities? The Director from Harvre de Grace was named the head of Harford County tourism when David Craig got into office. Was that person replaced? Seems like there is a lot of duplication of services that aren’t related to public safety…
Elaine- I haven’t the foggiest what occurs outside of the Heart of Harford. Maybe one of our Aberdeen or HdG residents here could field that one…
Aberdeen does not. HdG has a marketing and tourism dept. This is really a planning dept function and there is a great deal of duplication.
Bel Air has no incentives to bring business here and they make it as difficult as possible (Looney’s), so why would business come- just because you asked? They come because they can make a profit and for no other reason. Make it easier to profit, you’ll get business to come. Not really that complicated.
FYI – According to the Aegis today, the Dept. of Economic Development is holding a public meeting 11/17 at 7:30 to “get the public’s opinion on some concepts”. Apparently, they are looking to upgrade Thomas Street as a “walking” thoroughfare from Main St. to the mall.
It makes me feel warm and fuzzy to know that the Director of Econ Dev has realized the Mall and Main St are hubs of commercial activity. Where has she been for the last couple of years at $75k a year? You just realized this?
As I said earlier, would you park on Main St to walk to the Mall and then back or vice versa? I don’t get the point of this excercise other than someone trying to justify a salary. And how is this Econ Dev?
I don’t care that it may be grants, etc., some taxpayer is paying for something that may not even be possible to construct. This is probably one of the top ten DUMBEST things I’ve ever heard of.
AEGIS 11/13/09 “We looked at the different commercial areas in town and we realized that the mall was a hub of commercial activity
and Main Street was a hub of commercial activity,” she said. “Very often, people who want to go to the mall from Main Street, or vice versa, end up getting back in their car.”
“It makes sense for the town to encourage walking between the mall and Main Street, she said.”
Besdies the fact that nobody is going to walk from Main Street to the mall, doesn’t Thomas Street already have sidewalks from end to end and a stop sign at every cross street?
Check one project off the list as complete!
Still can’t imagine why they are committing any resources to this. Part of the problem is that they don’t live here and the other is they are looking for things to seem busy.
I’d still like to know what business is going to relocate or expand because we improve the sidewalks we already have.
I agree, seems like this is done already.
Ha ha! People don’t even want to park toward the back of the mall parking lot to shop at the mall. Hell, you could install a freakin’ monorail from Main St. to Hazzard Mall, and nobody would use that either. Taxes and rents are too high for most small businesses to survive the first year, fix that.
A very wise first lady once said “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” I am not at all happy about the way my money is being squandered by the Town of Bel Air. Some good ideas have been posted here and some good ideas have been proposed by Commissioner Hanley. Folks, please present your good ideas to the commissioners. Go to the town meetings! Speak up! The town administrators (yes, the six-figure salaried ones) don’t have the same issues with their town taxes. Why? Because they DO NOT pay them. They don’t live in the town. Residents and business owners need to show up and speak up. The voter turnout was very disappointing. I don’t want to believe that the 10,000 people living in the town are really that apathetic. Fiscal responsibility is what I want to see from the Town of Bel Air.
The Commissioners have either rejected the ideas for personal reasions or because 1 resident complained. There is no “grand vision” when they make decisions, more like petty pandering.
I’d debate most of these ideas for content and implementation but not for being necessary.
Paralysis by analysis, the staff makes everything so complicated they have to hire outside consultants to “study” the issues and tell them the answer the should have gotten if they were worth $100k per year. Typical bureaucracy.
You are so right, Mr. Becker. But our town is too small and too valuable to have layers of bureaucracy and overlapping responsibilities. I, for one, will attend the next meeting (well maybe not the next since the Ravens are on this Monday night) to find out exactly what each division does. For example, Planning & Zoning. What could they possibly do other than approve decks for housing developments? There’s nothing left to zone so there’s nothing to plan. And I spoke to a friend who had a great suggestion regarding Town Hall. Why not swap out locations for Public Works and the Police Department? The current Town Hall wouldn’t have to be renovated to the extent to make the upgrades necessary to have the police dept. function properly. The part that is occupied by Bel Air PD could then house the administrative part of public works and then the PD could take over the public works facility and do the upgrades necessary to convert that to fit their needs. It would involve some cost, but not $5 million. Not sure how many vehicles the Town owns and if there would be adequate parking for them at the Hickory Avenue site, but I think that could be worked out. If it’s logical, the board won’t listen.
Can someone help me out with something that I don’t understand? There is so much bickering about who the next “mayor” of Bel Air will be–Hanley with his “political agenda”, Carey or Preston with their same old, same old. Who decides which person will hold the honorary title of Mayor? From what I am reading, it is the Board itself. Don’t the citizens have any say in this? I wonder if someone could recommend appointing either Reier or Hopkins (even though he states he’s not interested) so at least we don’t have to read all this crap about agendas, personal gain, etc. I’m sure Reier and Hopkins have their own agendas as well, but not to the extent that these other commissioners do. If Adolph had won, would he be eligible to be the Mayor? This post may seem stupid to some people, but I really don’t know and I really hope someone can help me understand this. Thanks.
The Board elects the Chairperson and Vice-Chair, of which, the Chairperson holds the honorary title of “Mayor.” The position means little other than setting the agenda for the meetings and acting as a figurehead. All commissioners are eligible to be Chair. The only way that the citizens have a say is by electing the members of the Commission.
Thanks Tim.
ah dont unnerstan’ whuffo’ varmints is so obsessed wif power an’ their own varmintal ajundas. See, this hyar is like farmin’ fo’ me. Yo’ poeple (th’ voters) is like houn’dog an’ ah jest be hankerin’ t’steer poeple in a direckshun thet ah can git the dawgoned-est varmintal gain fum. mah dream is t’be a real estate developer. does as li’l as postible fo’ as much money as postible. manipuliate yo’ varmints voters like puppets.
Now that Dave Carey has obtained the chairmanship (Mayor) of the Board of commissioners in Bel Air, perhaps his wife Rachel Rice could invite Mayor Dixon to participate in the Bel Air Christmas Parade this Sunday. After all, in Bel Air they certainly do not welcome the likes of Delegate Mc Donough or Delegate Impallaria but would welcome Gift Card Sheila with open arms.
This is what Mayor Carey’s wife had to say today (WBAL) about Mayor Dixons Christmas Parade and Guilty verdict.
Meanwhile, Dixon’s campaign fundraiser has sent an email to supporters encouraging them to join Dixon in marching in the Mayor’s Christmas Parade which is scheduled for this Sunday afternoon in Hampden.
Rachel Rice wrote in the email obtained by WBAL News. It read in part:
“Let’s show support for OUR MAYOR and walk with her! Bring your family and friends – the more the merrier.”
Rice goes on to encourage supporters to contact Zoe Michal, the mayor’s scheduler to let her know they will march in the parade.
When reached by WBAL News this afternoon, Rice declined a request for an interview to talk about her request for the parade, or the Dixon case.
“I don’t think there’s a story here,” Rice told WBAL News in a brief phone conversation adding that as Dixon’s fundraiser she continues to support the mayor.