County Council

Term limits, the latest rage to sweep the halls of elected government office, will reach into the Harford County Council, too, if Councilman Barry Glassman has his wish.The District D Republican plans to introduce legislation before the County Council in January that would limit council members to two consecutive four-year terms.If approved, the legislation would be put to a vote by the public in next November's election as a County Charter amendment. The language would be similar to existing language in the charter that limits the county executive to two consecutive terms, Mr. Glassman said.

The Baltimore County Council unanimously approved a contract last night for a company to draw up development plans for the Kingsley Park apartments site in Middle River. The $94,000 contract to run community meetings and draft plans for the county-owned complex, which is being razed, was awarded to Baltimore- based Design Collective Inc. The company is to oversee a charrette - a series of community planning meetings - in May or June to decide what will be built at the 18-acre site at Old Eastern Avenue and Back River Neck Road.

Baltimore County Council members unanimously chose Pikesville-Ruxton Democrat Kevin Kamenetz last night to serve as chairman this year. Kamenetz, a three-term councilman, said that given the real estate market downturn, the rising costs of oil and construction, and state budget woes, fiscal issues will be the primary challenge facing the seven-member council in the coming months. "I think the council will continue scrutinizing budgetary issues because of our concern about potential state cutbacks as well as the other taxes imposed by the state that impact county residents," he said in an interview yesterday.

The Baltimore County Council extended an inspection program for rental housing to the entire county last night, a measure that supporters say will crack down on poorly kept properties. Under the bill, which passed by a 4-3 vote, owners of buildings containing six or fewer rental units must hire contractors to inspect the homes every three years and obtain rental licenses. Violators would face daily fines of $1,000. Councilmen Stephen G. Samuel Moxley of Catonsville and Joseph Bartenfelder of Fullerton, both Democrats, and T. Bryan McIntire, a north county Republican, voted against the bill.

Harford County Executive David R. Craig met with the County Council last night and painted a bleak revenue outlook that will dominate the remainder of the fiscal year and continue well into the next. The session followed daylong meetings Monday with all his department heads to "discuss options to make sure we have cash flow," Craig said. Tomorrow is the deadline for each county agency to submit a plan for cutting 5 percent of its current operating budget. Craig also established a personnel action oversight committee, which will review each vacancy to decide whether it will be filled.

Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Joe A. Hairston faced a barrage of questions yesterday from a County Council skeptical of his request for a $398,725 study of school system operations. In his first formal appearance before the council since assuming the post in July, Hairston was peppered with questions about why the efficiency study was needed, whether it could be performed with existing staff and the amount of savings expected. "What is your goal?" asked Councilman Vincent J. Gardina, a Perry Hall Democrat.

Baltimore County Council members displayed frustration yesterday at County Executive Roger B. Hayden's policy that requires them to go through his office to get county departments to respond to constituent complaints.They walked out on it.Council Chairman Douglas Riley, R-4th, refused to begin yesterday's work session until Nicholas Spinnato, the Hayden aide designated to handle the council's constituent complaints, showed up.The presence of Merreen Kelly, Mr. Hayden's choice for county administrator and the No. 2 man in the administration, did not matter, Mr. Riley said.

The County Council appears set to throw its weight behind County Executive Robert R. Neall's proposed 10 percent cap on property tax assessments.A majority of the seven council members said Friday they plan to vote in favor of a bill -- Neall's first piece of legislation -- to limit annual growth in individual property tax assessments to 10 percent.A public hearing on the legislation is slated for tonight's County Council meeting, set for 7:30 at the Arundel center in Annapolis.Neall's bill is largely a formality, because state law already mandates a 10 percent assessment cap. The state law does allow local governments to impose a lower limit on property tax growth, but, despite an ongoing outcry over property taxes, most council members said they are unwilling to support anything lower than 10 percent.

The County Council got its wish last week and became a defendant in a suit challenging its redistricting plan.The suit, brought by Republicans David P. Maier of Elkridge and Louis M. Pope of Laurel, will go to trial Aug. 31.Maier and Pope contend the redistricting plan approved by a 3-2 vote of the council last December is constitutionally invalid because the redistricting was done by resolution rather than through a bill.Although the council used both methods when district lines were first drawn in 1986, the suit contends that districting can only be accomplished by bill.

The County Council will vote tomorrow night on a charter amendment prohibiting council members from serving more than three four-year terms.Council Chairman David G. Boschert, D-Crownsville, and Councilwoman Maureen Lamb, D-Annapolis, are co-sponsoring a resolution to put the amendment on the ballot in the November general election. The electorate must approve all changes to the charter.The purpose of the amendment is to prevent officials from making a career of one particular political office, Boschert and Lamb have said.