Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Monday, July 01, 2002

20020701 to 2003 SDOSM Westminster City Budget Summary

20020701-2003 Westminster City Budget Summary

INCOME

TOTAL

GENERAL FUND

SEWER FUND

WATER FUND

Taxes - Local - Property

4,150,000

4,150,000



Taxes - Local - Income

1,200,000

1,200,000



Taxes - Local - Other

260,000

260,000



License & Permits

297,300

297,300



Revenue from other Agencies






Federal Grants &/or State Grants







Police Protection

390,000

390,000





Highway User revenue

800,000

800,000





Other

702,467

702,467




Carrol County Grants







Shared Revenue

622,429

622,429





Roads/Other

13,460

13,460





Financial Corporations

8,516

8,516



Fines & Forfeitures

64,000

64,000



Service Charges for Current Services

5,065,993

506,100

2,351,748

2,208,145








Miscellaneous







Interest Income

194,000

130,000

32,000

32,000



Benefit Assessments

2,911,083

197,900

1,286,500

1,426,683



Carrol County Septage Facility

310,000


310,000




Other - Parking Fees

4,400

4,400





Other

2,801,188

2,658,688

25,500

117,000

Prior Years Surplus or Allocations

864,566

864,566



Unfunded Deprication

12,666,000


834,000

432,000






TOTALS

21,925,402

12,869,826

4,839,748

4,215,828

EXPENDITURES

TOTAL

GENERAL FUND

SEWER FUND

WATER FUND

General Government







Legislative

28,908

28,908





Executive

41,433

41,433





Elections

4,745

4,745





Financial Administration

167,774

167,774





Law

57,500

57,500





Planning & Zoning

262,326

262,326





General Services

265,176

265,176





Other

431,192

431,192



Public Safety







Police Department

2,869,171

2,869,171





Fire Department

185,000

185,000





Other

49,995

49,995



Public Works







Streets, Highways and Alleys

3,951,028

3,951,028





Sanitation & Waste Removal

872,526

872,526





Recreation & Parks

1,463,431

1,463,431





Other - Autos, Trucks & Equip

257,338

257,338



CDBG

69,162

69,162



Pension, Insurances, Etc.

1,893,121

1,893,121



Water/Sewer System Operation:







Source of Supply

313,200



313,200



Treatment, etc.

1,472,900


943,200

529,700



Transmission & Distribution

614,800


278,300

336,500



Customer Account

98,008


49,004

49,004



Administrative & General

1,737,895


836,101

901,794



Bond/Loan/MWQFA Loan Interest

107,784


50,392

57,392



Amoritization Bond Issue Expense

4,704


2,459

2,245



Deprecation

1,266,000


834,000

432,000



Bond Principle Redemption

296,785


151,292

145,493



Carrol County Septage Facility

185,000


185,000




Capital Items (machinery, Equip., Etc.)

2,930,500


1,504,000

1,426,500



Other

28,000


6,000

22,000








TOTALS

21,925,402

12,869,826

4,839,748

4,215,828

Friday, June 21, 2002

20020620 New EPA Reports Confirm Waste-to-Energy's Clean Performance

New EPA Reports Confirm Waste-to-Energy's Clean Performance

http://www.nmwda.org/index.asp

Washington, D.C. (June 20, 2002) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released data confirming greater than 90% reductions in organic, metal, and acid gas emissions from waste-to-energy facilities nationwide as a result of the industry's compliance with the Clean Air Act standards.

"EPA's new emissions inventory is proof that the Clean Air Act results in significant environmental benefits for industry and the public it serves," said Maria Zannes, President of the Integrated Waste Services Association (IWSA), a national trade group representing the waste-to-energy industry and municipalities served by the technology.

The emissions inventory and accompanying reports released today by U.S. EPA are based on actual compliance test data of the nation's 66 large-unit waste-to-energy plants following a $1 billion upgrade in pollution control technology required by federal "Maximum Achievable Control Technology" (MACT) air standards promulgated in 1995 for large unit municipal waste combustors.

"America's cities that look to waste-to-energy as a solution to garbage disposal have done a tremendous job working with the U.S. EPA and industry to bring about this environmental success," said Zannes. "The reports show that waste-to-energy plants that generate electricity from trash represent one of the cleanest sources of power and safest methods of waste disposal in this country. The reports also show that modern pollution control equipment works very well to keep emissions very low."

More than 30 million people in 24 states rely upon 66 large-unit waste-to-energy plants that convert nearly 80,000 tons of trash each day into enough power to meet the needs of 2 million homes. Waste-to-energy technology results in avoiding the release of 11 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year into the air, according to a new study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will be published this summer in Air & Waste Management magazine.

The EPA reports show that dioxin emissions from waste-to-energy facilities dropped by more than 99%; lead emissions by 91%; mercury emissions by 95%; particulate matter emissions by 90%; hydrogen chloride emissions by 94%; cadmium emissions by 93%; sulfur dioxide emissions by 87%; and emissions of nitrogen oxides decreased by 18% due to retrofitting the industry with the most modern pollution control technology. Mercury emissions nationwide represent less than three percent of the national inventory of man-made mercury emissions, and dioxin emissions from waste-to-energy facilities represent less than one percent of the nation's inventory of dioxin sources.

Communities with waste-to-energy plants recycle at a rate of 33% as compared with the national average of 28%. Waste-to-energy facilities in the U.S. annually recover for recycling nearly 800,000 tons of ferrous metals and more than 900,000 tons of glass, metal, plastics, batteries, ash and yard waste.

Waste-to-energy reduces trash volume by about 90%, resulting in a 90% decrease in the amount of land required for garbage disposal. Studies of ash landfill conducted by government agencies and universities over the past decade show that leachate is like salty water, with a metals content that would meet drinking water standards.

To Visit the Integrated Waste Services Association (IWSA)
click on:
http://www.wte.org

Saturday, May 18, 2002

20020517 Bad Times Supervirus Warning Alert Caution and Advisory

Bad Times Supervirus Warning Alert Caution and Advisory

May 17th, 2002

If you receive an e-mail entitled “Bad times”, delete it IMMEDIATELY. Do not open it. Apparently this one is pretty nasty.

It will not only erase everything on your hard drive, but it will also delete anything on disks within 20 feet of your computer.

It demagnetizes the strips on ALL of your credit cards. It reprograms your ATM access code, screws up the tracking on your VCR and uses subspace field harmonics to scratch any CD’s you attempt to play.

It will program your phone auto-dial to call only 900 numbers. This virus will mix antifreeze into your fish tank.

IT WILL CAUSE YOUR TOILET TO FLUSH WHILE YOU ARE SHOWERING.

It will drink ALL your beer. FOR GOD’S SAKE, ARE YOU LISTENING??

It will leave dirty underwear on the coffee table when you are expecting company. It will replace your shampoo with Nair and your Nair with Rogaine, all the while dating your current boy/girlfriend behind your back and billing their hotel rendezvous to your Visa card.

It will cause you to run with scissors and throw things in a way that is only fun until someone loses an eye.

It will rewrite your backup files, changing all your active verbs to passive tense and incorporating undetectable misspellings, which grossly change the interpretations of key sentences.

If the “Bad times” message opened in a Windows 95/98 environment, it will leave the toilet seat up and leave your hair dryer plugged in dangerously close to a full bathtub.

It will not only remove the forbidden tags from your mattresses and pillows. It will also refill your skim milk with whole milk.

******* WARN AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN. *******

And if you don’t send this to 5000 people in 20 seconds you’ll fart so hard that your right leg will spasm and shoot straight out in front of you, sending sparks that will ignite the person nearest you.

Send to everyone...

In case you are a blonde, this is a joke.

Rec’d 200205

Wednesday, May 15, 2002

20020514 Getty won’t seek reelection

Getty won't seek reelection
by Lauren King Carroll County Times

May 14, 2002

Del. Joseph M. Getty, R-Carroll, announced Monday that he would not run for re-election in an effort to honor the two-term limit promise he made during the last election.

Getty did say that he would like to run for state Senate some day, but not against Sen. Larry E. Haines, R-Carroll.

"I've waited to see how things were lining up as far as Larry Haines' decision," Getty said. "I really want to honor the term-limit pledge that I made, and it seemed like this was the right time to announce it."

He said that if Haines changes his mind about running for state Senate, he would run for the seat.

But for now, Getty said he wouldn't be dropping out of the political scene. He said that he plans to help with U.S. Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich's campaign for governor, and his petition against the governor's legislative redistricting plan is still going through the Maryland Court of Appeals process.

Getty said that he would not reconsider his decision about the House of Delegates even if the legislative redistricting plan were amended to give Carroll a district completely within the county. The current plan would pit the three Carroll delegates - Getty and Dels. Carmen Amedori and Nancy R. Stocksdale - against each other for two seats.

Under the governor's plan, Carroll's Fifth District will be shared with a portion of western Baltimore County, where Republican Del. A. Wade Kach is the current incumbent.

20020514 Baltimore Sun: Westminster council OKs 03 budget

Westminster council OKs ’03 budget

The $21.9 million plan includes city's first tax increase in five years

May 14, 2002

The Westminster Common Council adopted last night a $21.9 million budget for fiscal 2003 that includes the city's first tax increase in five years - 4.8 cents - and $2.5 million for the long-awaited Longwell parking garage.

"When you take the [Longwell] garage out, there's been very little real growth in our budget, only $100,000 over last year's" budget, said Councilman L. Gregory Pecoraro, finance committee chairman.

The city's budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, includes money for day-to-day operations, its building program and water and sewer funds. No changes were made in water and sewer rates.

4.8-cent tax increase

The property tax will increase 4.8 cents to 40 cents per $100 of assessed value.

That means the owner of a home with an assessed value of $125,000 will pay $500 in property taxes next year, instead of $440, officials said.

When work on the budget began in April, city officials faced a $2.1 million difference in spending and revenue. The council trimmed $1.6 million from the spending plan in a work session. The tax increase will generate about $500,000 in additional revenue, officials said.

The additional revenue will cover $300,000 in road repairs on Royer Road. About $75,000 is designated for new salting equipment, improvements to the tot lot at Kings Park and a new position in the Fire Department.

The budget calls for a 1 percent cost-of-living raise for city employees.

In addition, the city will reserve $125,000 for a pension enhancement plan for Westminster Police Department. The city and the 43-member police department have yet to agree on a plan.

Council President Damian L. Halstad said the council is on the verge of scrapping the existing plan and devising an alternative more agreeable to the department.

Other business

In other business last night, the council:

Introduced a revised special capital benefit assessment fee that calls for commercial and residential developers to pay about $1,000 more to help cover the costs of expanding services.

Canceled its meeting May 27 for the Memorial Day holiday.

20020514 Baltimore Sun: Westminster council OKs 03 budget


Sunday, April 28, 2002

20020428 Mayor Dayhoff honored for support of reservists sun

Mayor Dayhoff honored for support of reservists sun
April 28th, 2002

Central County Briefs

Mayor Dayhoff honored for support of reservists

Master Sgt. Thomas B. Beyard of Headquarters Aviation Depot Maintenance Roundout Unit recently presented the Maryland Employer Support for Guard and Reserve State Chair's Award to Westminster Mayor Kevin E. Dayhoff.

The award is given to employers who have gone beyond the requirements for employer support of the National Guard. Beyard, Westminster planning director, said the city has always supported his service with the Maryland Army National Guard. Beyard said Dayhoff and the Westminster Common Council also deserve the "My Boss is a Patriot" award for their support of his military service.

The award was presented at a recent Common Council meeting.

Wednesday, April 24, 2002

20020423 Baltimore Sun: Westminster property tax rise proposed and Officers disapprove of pension plan

Baltimore Sun: Westminster property tax rise proposed and Officers disapprove of pension plan

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/carroll/bal-ca.council23apr23.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dcarroll

Westminster property tax rise proposed

Officers disapprove of police pension plan

April 23, 2002

The Westminster Common Council unveiled last night a proposed $21.9 million spending plan for fiscal 2003 that calls for a 4.8-cent increase in the property tax rate - the city's first increase in five years.

"It's a pretty responsible budget that does two things - it tries to meet the city's current need to provide services and it also tries to look to the future for other needs," said Councilman L. Gregory Pecoraro, chairman of the council's finance committee, which drafted the proposed budget.

In another money-related matter, the council introduced last night an ordinance creating a pension enhancement plan for the city's 43 police officers.

Concern for adequate room in case of a large turnout by police officers prompted the council to move the meeting to a hearing room at the County Office Building. More than half the force showed up.

The proposed 2003 budget, which includes monies for the water and sewer funds as well as building projects, is up $4.6 million from the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. Pecoraro said more than half of the money is earmarked for construction of the Longwell Avenue parking deck.

Under the spending plan, city employees will receive a 1 percent cost-of-living raise. This year employees received a 2.5 percent raise, plus $240.

While water and sewer rates will remain the same, the property tax will increase 4.8 cents to 40 cents per $100 of assessed value. The average Westminster home has an assessed value of $125,000 and the homeowner pays $440 in property taxes each year. That will increase to $500 next year.

Pecoraro said the increase could provide the city with about $500,000 in additional revenue.

A public hearing on the proposed budget and tax increase will be held May 6. The council could take action on the proposals as early as May 13.

Local police officers - and several supporters from the Annapolis Police Department - showed up to voice their disapproval of the proposed supplemental retirement plan for the Police Department.

At a cost of $125,000 a year, the city would deposit the equivalent of 5 percent to 9 percent - depending on years of service - of an officer's annual salary into an account similar to a savings plan.

The Westminster Police Association, Local 84, released a statement at the end of the meeting outlining its opposition to the plan.

The organization questioned the viability of the plan to retain officers because its five years' vesting gives officers an excuse to quit in favor of employment by a police department offering the kind of plan they want - a 25-year retirement threshold and 50 percent guaranteed payback.

"Now is the time for the City Council to begin taking care of the employees that take care of the city and keep it running," the statement read.

20020423 Baltimore Sun: Westminster property tax rise proposed and Officers disapprove of pension plan