Commissioners

With a growing number of developers looking to build assisted-living housing in Carroll County, the county commissioners decided yesterday to take the first step toward regulating such facilities.Acting on a suggestion by county planning Director Philip J. Rovang, the commissioners directed the planning staff to draft a zoning ordinance amendment that would address issues such as parking and setback requirements for assisted-living facilities."The current zoning ordinance talks about terms we've been familiar with for 20 years, things like nursing homes and senior housing.

Carroll County Commissioners plan to announce their choice for chief of staff at a news conference this morning.They are expected to give Robert A. "Max" Bair, their executive assistant, the new title.The commissioners, who took office three weeks ago, have moved quickly to make organizational changes. The chief of staff is a key part of their plan.The person in the job will have the authority to work with department heads to implement policies set by the commissioners, Commissioner W. Benjamin Brown said.

The Carroll County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to take comments on amendments to the budget ordinance at 2 p.m. Thursday in Room 300A of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster.The proposed amendments are technical due to a change in financing methods for previously approved capital improvement projects.The County Commissioners may take amendments to this proposed change to the ordinance based upon comments received and also without further hearing.Questions concerning the proposed ordinance should be addressed to Steve Powell at 857-2082 or 876-2085.

In a unanimous vote yesterday, the county commissioners formally trimmed the Planning and Zoning Commission to five members from seven. Officials will not have to ask for resignations because two members recently left the planning body. Grant Dannelly left when his term expired last month, and Thomas Hiltz resigned last fall. State law allows for a five- to seven-member commission. The previous Board of County Commissioners increased the planning panel to seven members to give slow-growth advocates a voice on the body.

Two new commissioners were elected to office in Bel Air on Tuesday night.Robert G. Cassilly, who received 383 votes, and David E. Carey, who received 359 votes, fill open seats on the five-member town commission.They beat James E. Massey Jr., who received 336 votes; Robert M. Preston, who received 293 votes; and Patrick W. Whiteman, who received 34 votes.Pub Date: 3/13/97

County Commissioners Donald I. Dell and Elmer C. Lippy feel that facing difficult problems is among their greatest accomplishments, they told the Carroll County Homebuilders Association last night.The two also spoke of their goals for the county's future.Mr. Lippy noted that the commissioners have had to cut thcounty budget several times and raise sewer rates."I think we deserve a C for courage," he said. "Any one of thesthings could get a person unelected."We get along, we respect each other and we respect each other's opinions," Mr. Lippy said of the three-member board of commissioners.

The county commissioners said Thursday that they will review the recommended bylaws and resolutions that would govern the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board.A draft of the document was given to the commissioners by Jim Slater, administrator of the Office of Environmental Affairs, who will act as the staff representative to the advisory board.The advisory panel is to be composed of citizens interested in matters that affect the environment."The board was created by the previous board of commissioners just after I arrived here in 1990," Mr. Slater said.

Carroll commissioners voted Thursday to spend $69,477 to hire a legal secretary in the state's attorney's office and to help pay for a family shelter and a regional animal lab. The items were additions to the county's proposed $130 million budget for fiscal 1994.They voted to spend:* $28,785 to hire a legal secretary for State's Attorney Thomas E. Hickman's office. The office needed a secretary to help keep up with increasing clerical work.* $20,692 for Carroll's share of operating the Frederick County Animal Laboratory, which tests animals in the region.

Carroll's commissioners approved a revised personnel ordinance yesterday that modifies the current promotions policy. The ordinance takes effect Dec. 1.The new policy says that if employees are promoted, their former jobs will be kept open for three months. If employees receive an unsatisfactory review in their new positions after a three-month probationary period, they may return to their former position.The change was designed to encourage promotion, Director of Human Resources and Personnel Services Jimmie L. Saylor said.