Governing Board

EAST WINDSOR, N.J. - The dissenting homeowners at Twin Rivers, a vast 1970-vintage housing development of 10,000 residents on the exurban plains here, say their homeowner association autocratically denies them the rights that most citizens take for granted. The homeowner association says that if the dissidents dislike like living here, in central New Jersey, they should move. Now the handful of dissenters, backed by the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, are suing the homeowner association in a lawsuit that could change New Jersey law and prove influential in other states as well.

"In the name of my savior, I pray," is how one Carroll County commissioner concluded his prayer to open a recent meeting of the county's governing board. Now two county residents are asking a federal judge to end what they say is the board's regular practice of opening meetings with prayers that are "frequently Christian in nature. " In a lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Neil Ridgely of Finksburg and Bruce Hake of Union Bridge say invocations of "Jesus" and "the savior" by county commissioners during public meetings violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

Northwest Health System ended its year-long search for a merger partner yesterday with the announcement that it had chosen Sinai Health System.The two hospitals said they would create a new governing board, with half the members from each, and a new central administration, but would maintain all current staff and programs at the two campuses."

Contrary to what some critics may say, the Morgan State University Board of Regents takes seriously its obligations as a governing board with responsibility for the overall management of the institution ("Morgan regents often 'not here,' " July 13). Morgan State's board meets the state standard for attendance at regular board meetings, satisfies the requirements of our by-laws for a quorum and otherwise invests the time necessary to effectively accomplish the business of the university.

Two Columbia Council members supportive of Columbia Association President Deborah O. McCarty were overwhelmingly defeated in village elections yesterday, tipping the city's governing board toward her critics. In an election that generated unusual interest, one of McCarty's allies won only 14 percent of the vote; another had 26 percent. "I think the message from the community is that we'd like things to be done differently," Lanny Morrison said as he prepared to celebrate his victory over incumbent Tom Forno in the Harper's Choice race.

"In the name of my savior, I pray," is how one Carroll County commissioner concluded his prayer to open a recent meeting of the county's governing board. Now two county residents are asking a federal judge to end what they say is the board's regular practice of opening meetings with prayers that are "frequently Christian in nature. " In a lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Neil Ridgely of Finksburg and Bruce Hake of Union Bridge say invocations of "Jesus" and "the savior" by county commissioners during public meetings violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

The Columbia Association's governing board will select three Columbia residents to help it find a successor to Padraic Kennedy, who will retire next summer after 26 years as president of the large homeowners association.As president, Kennedy oversees about 185 employees.He works for the 10-member governing board and makes about $103,000 a year.Joe Merke, the board chairman, said the search committee will consist of himself, two other board members and three Columbia residents.The five other committee members have not been selected.

PRINCESS ANNE - Public relations executive David H. Nevins was elected chairman of the University System of Maryland's governing Board of Regents yesterday. Nevins replaces Clifford M. Kendall, who served three consecutive one-year terms as chairman. Nevins was appointed to the board by Gov. Parris N. Glendening in 1999 and was reappointed last year by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. The chairman has no official added duties other than running meetings but is widely considered the public face of the governing board and often serves as a behind-the-scenes facilitator for key policy decisions.

Carroll County government will spend at least $154,000 over the next 30 years to use part of the Westminster Cemetery property for parking.The county has begun grading work to create a parking lot on three-quarters of an acre at Greenwood Avenue and Ralph Street. The cemetery's governing board plans to use the property eventually for burial sites. Meanwhile, the Westminster Cemetery Co. needs the income from renting land to the county.The 77-space parking lot is to be replanted in grass when the lease ends, under an agreement signed in December 1992 by the county commissioners and the cemetery's governing board.

To some a candid leader, to others a rude bully, Mike Rethman made a name for himself during his one-year term as chairman of the Columbia Association's 10-member governing board.And last week, he delivered one heck of a sign-off. In a pointed five-minute speech during a Thursday night board meeting, Rethman assailed two fellow board members.Referring to board member Norma Rose by name and board member Alex Hekimian by implication, Rethman said their "hearts are usually in the right place, but [their]

Sparked by failing test scores at eight academically troubled schools, the city school system is considering proposals to relinquish control of the schools to local universities and other outside partners who could devise strategies for turning them around. The school board is expected to vote on the proposals tonight. Under one proposal, four elementary/middle schools in Cherry Hill would be operated in partnership with Towson University. A governing board would be established to oversee those four schools plus Morrell Park Elementary/Middle, which is already run by Towson.

PRINCESS ANNE - Public relations executive David H. Nevins was elected chairman of the University System of Maryland's governing Board of Regents yesterday. Nevins replaces Clifford M. Kendall, who served three consecutive one-year terms as chairman. Nevins was appointed to the board by Gov. Parris N. Glendening in 1999 and was reappointed last year by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. The chairman has no official added duties other than running meetings but is widely considered the public face of the governing board and often serves as a behind-the-scenes facilitator for key policy decisions.

EAST WINDSOR, N.J. - The dissenting homeowners at Twin Rivers, a vast 1970-vintage housing development of 10,000 residents on the exurban plains here, say their homeowner association autocratically denies them the rights that most citizens take for granted. The homeowner association says that if the dissidents dislike like living here, in central New Jersey, they should move. Now the handful of dissenters, backed by the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, are suing the homeowner association in a lawsuit that could change New Jersey law and prove influential in other states as well.

WASHINGTON - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission appears headed for a showdown with Gov. Gray Davis, perhaps as early as today, over political control of the powerful nonprofit corporation that runs California's electricity transmission grid. Responding to an industry complaint that the grid operator lacks required independence, FERC could immediately disband its governing board, which was appointed by Davis. But several observers said yesterday that such a politically provocative step seems unlikely in the heat of summer.

To win the job of Columbia Association president, one of the three finalists will have to win over a majority of the Columbia Council. But he can't count on its backing for long. Seven of the council's 10 members are up for re-election in April. At least two of them - Cecilia Januszkiewicz of Long Reach and Adam Rich of River Hill - have decided not to run. The new council takes office in May. "It is a problem since this person will be hired by a group of people, seven of whom can change in four months," Januszkiewicz said.

To win the job of Columbia Association president, one of the three finalists will have to win over a majority of the Columbia Council. But he can't count on its backing for long. Seven of the council's 10 members are up for re-election in April. At least two of them - Cecilia Januszkiewicz of Long Reach and Adam Rich of River Hill - have decided not to run. The new council takes office in May. "It is a problem, since this person will be hired by a group of people, seven of whom can change in four months," Januszkiewicz said.

Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke confirmed yesterday that Carroll Armstrong will lead Baltimore's convention bureau, but he said the new chief would have to make do for now with a budget far below that of competitors.A starting date had not been determined for Mr. Armstrong, the marketing director for the San Diego Convention Center, chosen to lead the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, Mr. Schmoke said.The mayor declined to provide the salary or specific terms of the contract because the agency's governing board was to make its final recommendations on the package after a meeting last night.

The Baltimore Teachers Union will seek help from a private accounting firm and the Washington-based American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to confront its growing deficit, BTU officials said yesterday.The decisions were made at an emergency meeting of the BTU governing board and marked a break in the bumpy transition of power at the headquarters of the city's largest municipal union, which recently elected a new president.Since the bitter election campaign, when opponents of the union's long-entrenched leadership disclosed the BTU's financial troubles, union leaders have been at odds.

AS A LEADING lawmaker remarked, Lance W. Billingsley's new high-paying university job "doesn't meet the smell test." Mr. Billingsley, a member of the governing board of the University System of Maryland, announced last week that he'll leave his regent's post to take a still-to-be-created vice president's job in the system. The position could pay as much as $185,000. Can you say conflict of interest? If the governing board wants to retain a shred of integrity, its members will stop Mr. Billingsley before he settles into academia.

Two Columbia Council members supportive of Columbia Association President Deborah O. McCarty were overwhelmingly defeated in village elections yesterday, tipping the city's governing board toward her critics. In an election that generated unusual interest, one of McCarty's allies won only 14 percent of the vote; another had 26 percent. "I think the message from the community is that we'd like things to be done differently," Lanny Morrison said as he prepared to celebrate his victory over incumbent Tom Forno in the Harper's Choice race.