Council Chairman

Parents and faculty members at Essex Elementary School yesterday were all but assured that money for a study to determine what to do with the deteriorating 67-year-old building will come through.The $50,000 for the study is part of Baltimore County Executive Roger B. Hayden's proposed budget for fiscal 1993.But Essex parents and faculty members were concerned that tight fiscal times might prod the County Council to cut the money.But at a meeting at the school yesterday, Council Chairman William A. Howard IV, R-6th, confirmed his support, adding that with the already-pledged support of Councilman Vincent Gardina, a 5th District Democrat, the money for the Essex project "has a pretty good chance of passing."

Soon after the five new members of the Anne Arundel County Council took office last year, the time came for the body to choose a chairman — not a particularly glamorous job, but a position that comes with the responsibility of setting the council's agendas and running the public meetings. It was likely that a member of the Republican majority — composed entirely of freshman legislators — would take on the role. But there wasn't exactly a fight for the job. Many council members demurred, pointing to busy work schedules and other responsibilities.

Prospects look good that David G. Boschert, the Crownsville Democrat, will retain his hold on the County Council chairmanship when it comes up for a vote tonight. Mr. Boschert, who has held the post for two one-year terms, is being challenged by Carl "Dutch" Holland, a Pasadena Republican and current council vice chairman. Most observers agree that each councilman has three of the four votes he needs to win, leaving Edward Middlebrooks, a Severn Democrat, as the swing vote.In recent weeks, Mr. Middlebrooks had been hinting that he would consider voting for Mr. Holland, giving the seven-member council -- including five Democrats -- a Republican chairman.

Pledging "more of the same" leadership they exhibited over the last four years, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and all five incumbent County Council members began their second term in office at swearing-in ceremonies Monday night at Howard High School. With a blustery cold wind blowing outside the recently renovated building, Ulman said that despite recessionary budget pressures, he intends to continue pushing Howard to the forefront on issues like health care, the environment and technology.

Howard County Council Chairman Christopher J. Merdon may no longer lead a voting majority on the five-member council, but his chairmanship is not in danger. Merdon, an Ellicott City Republican, requested a legal opinion on whether the Democrats could replace him in midyear. The resulting five-page opinion from the county's Office of Law said he is safe, which pleased Merdon. "There's not a whole lot more responsibility [in being chairman] than being a council member," Merdon said. "I do enjoy running the meetings and setting the agenda.

COUNTY COUNCIL Chairman Guy Guzzone's name is often mentioned as the most likely Democratic candidate for county executive next year, but don't jump to any conclusions. The lanky father of three says he has not decided what to run for, or whether to run at all. "When I decide, I'll announce," Guzzone said last week. "Here are my options - county executive, state Senate, House of Delegates, County Council, or nothing." Guzzone, a North Laurel-Savage Democrat in his second council term, said he is pondering personal and professional considerations, noting that there are 16 more months before the November 2006 election.

One year ago, Councilman Carl "Dutch" Holland suggested that fellow Councilman David Boschert wanted to become vice chairman of the County Council because he was unemployed.Monday night, Holland voted for Boschert, who became chairman, replacing Councilwoman Virginia Clagett, D-West River. In exchange for his support of Boschert, Holland became vice chairman, a job he had sought last year.The alliance between Boschert, a Crownsville Democrat, and Holland, a Republican from Pasadena, angered Councilwoman Maureen Lamb, D-Annapolis, the only council member to oppose Boschert.

The vote won't come until after tomorrow's 7 p.m. swearing-in at Centennial High School, but chances are that Calvin Ball, an east Columbia Democrat, will be the new chairman of the Howard County Council. Ball, 30, is pooh-poohing predictions. The new council members discussed leadership at a two-day retreat last week at Belmont Conference Center in Elkridge, but they would not give specifics. "There was a lot of conversation and team building and getting to know each other," Ball said.

Parents and faculty members at Essex Elementary School have been all but assured that money for a study to determine what to do with the deteriorating 67-year-old building will come through.The $50,000 for the study is part of Baltimore County Executive Roger B. Hayden's proposed budget for fiscal 1993.But Essex parents and faculty members were concerned that tight fiscal times might prod the County Council to cut the money.But at a meeting at the school yesterday, Council Chairman William A. Howard IV, R-6th, confirmed his support, adding that with the already-pledged support of Councilman Vincent Gardina, a 5th District Democrat, the money for the Essex project "has a pretty good chance of passing."

Councilman John A. Olszewski Sr., a first-term Democrat from Dundalk, was elected chairman of the Baltimore County Council last night. The position rotates annually and is largely symbolic - the chairman runs legislative meetings and meets more frequently with the county executive than other council members do - but it is often noted as evidence of leadership skills when council members run for higher office. Olszewski, who takes over for Councilman Stephen G. Samuel Moxley, a Catonsville Democrat, said he plans to run for re-election in the fall but will consider higher office someday.

The Howard County Council is exploring whether it has the power to change costly contracts that County Executive Ken Ulman recently negotiated with the county's public safety unions. The fire department's contract, for instance, includes a 6 percent raise every year for four years. The police force's two-year contract includes a 5 percent raise each year, take-home patrol cars for officers who live outside the county and other raises for more experienced officers. Last month, more than 65 nonunion workers signed petitions protesting the "fundamental unfairness" of Ulman's pay proposals, which included a 3 percent raise for general employees.

The Howard County Council voted last night to limit a sweeping property tax cut for older homeowners enacted one week before last fall's election. The changes were designed to reduce a tax benefit for the elderly that is more generous than those available in most Maryland counties. The law, approved Oct. 31, gave homeowners 70 or older a 25 percent reduction in their July 1 county property tax bills - and then would freeze the bills until the house is sold - if their annual income is under $75,000.

Moxley elected council chairman The Baltimore County Council elected Catonsville Democrat Stephen G. Samuel Moxley last night to serve as the panel's chairman this year, Moxley, who has served on the council since 1994, has served as chairman in 1998, 2001 and 2004. He replaces Councilman John Olszewski Sr., a Dundalk Democrat. Moxley "works well with people. He's a good listener," Olszewski said. Although the chairman can serve more than one year in a row, the job typically rotates among council members.

The vote won't come until after tomorrow's 7 p.m. swearing-in at Centennial High School, but chances are that Calvin Ball, an east Columbia Democrat, will be the new chairman of the Howard County Council. Ball, 30, is pooh-poohing predictions. The new council members discussed leadership at a two-day retreat last week at Belmont Conference Center in Elkridge, but they would not give specifics. "There was a lot of conversation and team building and getting to know each other," Ball said.

The Howard County Council is scheduled to vote on a Republican-sponsored property tax cut bill for seniors 70 and over Tuesday night, but the vote comes as political tensions between the body's two Republicans and three Democrats are reaching the boiling point. The bill offers to freeze property taxes after a 25 percent cut to seniors with incomes under $75,000. A large number of seniors spoke in favor of the bill at a council public hearing Sept. 19. Commission on Aging members said they, too, like the concept, but suggested delaying consideration until the county gets more data on the cost and the housing needs of seniors.

Democrats back off on rezoning change County Councilman Ken Ulman said at a candidates forum on development that the council's Democrats have decided not to introduce a bill next month to change Howard County's once-a-decade comprehensive rezoning process. Ulman, a Democrat and candidate for county executive, told more than 150 residents at Terra Maria, a development on Frederick Road in Ellicott City, that a bill to improve community notification in zoning board cases and allow for mediation in some contested cases will be introduced - but not the larger reform measure announced last week.

Stephen G. Sam Moxley of Catonsville is scheduled to become chairman of the Baltimore County Council next month, cementing Democratic control of the job for this four-year term.Democrats say that, despite appearances, there is nothing partisan about keeping the largely administrative chairmanship in their political family."It's strictly personality based," said Kevin Kamenetz, a Pikesville-Randallstown Democrat who is a former county Democratic Party chairman and was council chairman in 1996.

For the past five years, the most Republican Charles C. Feaga could aspire to on the Democratic-controlled County Council was chairman ofthe liquor board.It is not a job to get puffed up about. The Democrats have been trying to push the council's liquor board responsibilities off on someone else for years.Feaga -- Republican councilman in the 5th District -- had thoughtthat after four years of servitude under the Democrats and the addition of a second Republican on the council, he might have a shot at the coveted zoning board chairmanship.

Howard County Council Chairman Christopher J. Merdon may no longer lead a voting majority on the five-member council, but his chairmanship is not in danger. Merdon, an Ellicott City Republican, requested a legal opinion on whether the Democrats could replace him in midyear. The resulting five-page opinion from the county's Office of Law said he is safe, which pleased Merdon. "There's not a whole lot more responsibility [in being chairman] than being a council member," Merdon said. "I do enjoy running the meetings and setting the agenda.

A proposed ban on smoking in all Howard county bars and restaurants was suddenly revived last night after the County Council's chairman, Ellicott City Republican Christopher J. Merdon, reintroduced a bill he had helped kill in January. The ban, which if passed would take effect Jan. 1, 2008, had originally been sought by Howard Executive James N. Robey, a Democrat. The move shocked other council members and those in the audience of the sparsely attended meeting in Ellicott City, but delighted anti-smoking advocates, who had hoped to use a ban in Howard County to help spur statewide action.