20060615 KDDC Commissioners to put Code Home Rule on Ballot

Commissioners to put Code Home Rule on Ballot

This just in earlier from the Westminster Eagle and Eldersburg Eagle:

EAGLE ALERT: Code Home Rule initiative put into motion

Thursday, June 15, 2006 5:21 PM

By Jim Joyner

The Board of County Commissioners on Thursday took the first step toward placing Code Home Rule on the November ballot as a voter referendum.

By consensus, the commissioners announced their "intent" to place Code Home Rule before voters - essentially kicking off a process that requires at least two public hearings, then a formal vote by the Board before Aug. 21 in order to place it on the Nov. 7 election ballot.

Code Home Rule is a change of the county's form of government that would expand on the county's ability to enact certain types of legislation without approval by the General Assembly. The General Assembly would still hold the authority over issues including new taxes, but County government would obtain bonding authority, the ability to enact impact fees and could even change the number of commissioners and establish a district form of government - without General Assembly approval.

"We'd still be obligated to go to the general Assembly for certain things," noted Commissioner President Julia Gouge.

County Attorney Kim Millender said Code Home Rule includes many of the provisions of charter government, but without the need to establish a formal charter, which usually sets up an executive and legislative branch.

Commissioner Perry Jones noted that the board has received many phone calls and letters about making Code Home Rule a voter referendum, and said, "I was skeptical at first ... (but) I'm for this (placing it on the ballot)."

By law, the commissioners must record their "intent" to place Code Home Rule on the ballot, then must hold at least two public hearings, giving 30 days notice. After that, the board must vote to formally place Code Home Rule on the ballot - all this must be done prior to Aug. 21 in order to be done this year.

But the commissioners also said they hope to go farther, and have a series of informational meetings over the summer - either before, along with or after the public hearings. Millender said the University of Maryland Intergovernmental Service Department has expressed a willingness to help run information meetings to help residents grasp the differences in the government forms.

Millender said staff will work out a tentative schedule and return to the commissioners next week for review.

Gouge expressed some concern that the time frame may be too quick to make voters comfortable with the Code Home Rule proposal, and said the public hearing will, she hoped, let residents tell the board if it's too short a period to educate the public. "Is that really enough time? That's what we need to hear."

Commissioner Dean Minnich backed the effort, but said the hearings and informational meetings will be crucial. "Everybody will know what we're doing, when we're doing it, and why."

E-mail Jim Joyner at jjoyner@patuxent.com.

Kevin Dayhoff: Many forms of government in Carroll County Maryland’s history

Many forms of government in Carroll’s history

October 12, 2005 by Kevin Dayhoff

Throughout Carroll County’s history we have faced many challenges and had many different forms of government. Through it all we faced our challenges by coming together, rolling up our sleeves and getting to work.

Much of this column came from old notes in my files, of which unfortunately, I had not cited the source of the information.  However, I used two great books for fact checking: “Carroll County Maryland – A History 1837-1976” by Nancy Warner et al, and “Legacy of the Land” by Carol Lee.

From 1659 to 1837, the eastern half of Carroll County was governed by Baltimore County.  From 1695, Prince Georges County governed the western portion of Carroll County until 1748 when Frederick County was formed.

When the property, “Whites Level”, that later become part of Westminster was first purchased in 1733, it was in Prince Georges County.

As early as 1785, citizens petitioned Maryland Governor William Paca to form “Paca County” from parts of Frederick and Baltimore Counties.  In the November 25, 1813 issue of the “Engine of Freedom,” a newspaper in “The Forks,” later to be known as Uniontown, wrote that a petition was being forwarded to the Maryland General Assembly to form “Union County,” with the county seat in Uniontown.  Both petitions were rejected.

On March 2, 1833 a bill passed the Maryland General Assembly authorizing a vote on the issue of forming Carroll County in October 1833. The vote failed, 593 to 554; although it was later speculated that it failed because of voter irregularities in the Baltimore County portion. 

Manchester, which had been against the idea of forming a separate county, “exultantly fired [a cannon] in the direction of defeated Westminster” after the vote was taken.

Finally a bill was introduced in 1835 and passed the General Assembly on March 25, 1836 to form Carroll County.  This act was confirmed on January 19, 1837. It only took about fifty years, but Carroll Countians had finally changed their government.

From 1837–1851 the governing body of Carroll County was called the “Levy Court.”  It consisted of nine individuals; one from each of the nine existing election districts in Carroll at the time and they were appointed by the governor of Maryland.

The Maryland Constitution of 1851 changed the “Levy Court” to the “Commissioners of Tax” and from 1853 to 1891, there were three at-large commissioners elected to two-year terms. 

From 1893 to 1921, according to Charles W. Albert’s excellent reference book, “Carroll County Election Results 1837-2000,” the county elected one commissioner every other year for a six-year term.

After another transition, in 1926, “the county went to electing three commissioners for four-year terms.”

In 1968, the voters of Carroll County rejected both charter government and code home rule. In 1984, code home rule was defeated. In 1992 charter government was defeated at the ballot box. In 1998 the voters rejected a referendum to increase the Board of Commissioners to five at-large members and rejected a charter form of government. 

On December 8^th, 1999, Delegate Don Elliott brought the five-commissioner idea back up at a joint meeting of the county's state delegation and the commissioners. On November 2^nd, 2004, the voters of Carroll County approved the idea. 

Change in Carroll County seems to take a long time. At least we have whittled the time to implement change down from fifty years.

Most agree that the voters in Carroll County are a lot smarter than many give them credit.  Carroll Countians have discussed a change in government for thirty-six years and we have finally made a decision to change it.  Perhaps, by now, we should be ‘getting it’ and respect that the voters have an interest in a change.

We face many serious challenges in Carroll County. The voters have made a decision.  Let’s get on with it and get to work. 

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster.

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Labels: Carroll Co 5 Commissioner Dist plan, Carroll Co Delegation to Annapolis, MD Gen Assembly 2008 425, Police Carroll Co Police Dept

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Kevin Dayhoff: Many forms of government in Carroll County Maryland’s history

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

20041007 Looking at a change in our county government by Mike Zimmer

Looking at a change in our county government

Oct. 7, 2004 Michael Zimmer

Are five heads better than three? Delegate Don Elliott sure thinks so. He spoke forcefully and passionately in favor of the ballot initiative to change our form of county government at the September meeting of the South Carroll Republican Club.

The Elliott plan would both expand the number of Carroll Commissioners from three to five and also change our current at-large voting system to running and voting by district. Both the pro and con sides of the argument are starting to gear up for the debate of this question. I have started seeing vote 5 signs around the county in support of the initiative. Maybe the con side will sport signs saying, "Three is enough!"

I can see good points and negative points on both sides of the question.

[…]

I can see some advantages in adding two Commissioners.

[…]

On the con side, I'm concerned with the district system. I don't object necessarily to running by district but voting by district worries me a little. In some counties you run for a district seat but the whole county votes for you. This forces candidates to focus on the good of the whole county not merely look to their own area.

[…]

I wonder if Delegate Elliott or his colleagues gave any thought to a blend between countywide and district? For example, we could have four Commissioners elected by district. We have two single member delegate districts, which could each have a Commissioner. Delegate District 5A has two seats and could have two commissioners. This would solve the difficult challenge of drawing district lines. The fifth Commissioner would be elected at large. This person would be uniquely charged with looking out for the big picture and would serve as President to the Board. Well if this year's plan goes down in flames, maybe my suggestion will be the next alternative we will consider some years down the road.

Read the entire column here: Looking at a change in our county government

My Thoughts on the Five-Commissioner form of government by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff

My Thoughts on the Five-Commissioner form of government by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff

Proposed Five Commissioner Form of Government

September 4th, 2004 / October 31st, 2004

Kevin Dayhoff, Westminster mayor

Five regionally elected Commissioners makes government closer to the people.  Increased representation increases the collective experience and intellectual abilities of the Board working for us. 

The services and additional representation required of well managed growth and progressive government will cost more money.  Additional representation will give us valuable return for our money that will justify the expense. 

Ultimately, I will respect the judgment and wishes of Carroll Countians on November 2nd, 2004. 

_________________________________________

I see no substantive downside to Five Commissioners, only benefits.  A regionally elected Five Member Board of Commissioners makes government closer to the people. 

It is a reality that the county has grown, and recognizing that reality there is an appropriate need for additional representation.  Increased representation increases the collective experience and intellectual abilities of the Board working for us. 

The services and additional representation required of well managed growth and progressive government will cost more money.  Hopefully, it is not the additional money we spend, it is the additional return for our money that will justify the expense. 

No one wants to see government cost more but everyone wants the additional services and there has been a consistent clamor for additional representation for many years. 

Our current form of government of three commissioners was essentially formulated in 1851.  In 1851, the population of Carroll County was less than 16,000 (and less than 1,400 in Westminster. 

Westminster also had a Commissioner and Burgess form of government until 1856.)  Today, it is more than ten times that number.  There were no public schools in Carroll County in 1851.  There were only 9 election districts in Carroll County.  The County budget was less than $20,000.  (As a point of comparison to today’s budget: The 1853 budget for Carroll County was $19,019.57.  That figure included: $3,062 for supervisors of roads; $1,052.07 for county commissioners; $254 election expenses; $166.86 for sheriff; $56 for wood; $343.78 for jail expenses and $1,530.30 for roads and bridges among numerous other miscellaneous items.)

Ultimately, I will respect the vote of Carroll Countians on November 2nd, 2004.  I trust and respect the voters judgment and wishes.

20040904 My thoughts re Proposed Five Commissioners

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Labels: Carroll Co 5 Commissioner Dist plan, Carroll Co Delegation to Annapolis, MD Gen Assembly 2008 425, Police Carroll Co Police Dept

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com