November 2008 Highlights:

• Due to the Presidential Election on Tuesday, November 4, and Veterans' Day on Tuesday, November 11, the Council will be in recess until Tuesday, November 18.

October 2008 Highlights:

• County Executive David Craig and County Administrator Lorraine Costello gave the Council a presentation of the Financial Outlook for the County for FY2009 and 2010.
• The Council presented a proclamation to Vi Ripken in recognition of her designation as a Harford Living Treasure, and a proclamation was presented to the Sheriff's Office in declaration of National Crime Prevention Month.
• Over 150 amendments were introduced to the Zoning Code Rewrite and Subdivision Regulations legislation (Bill Nos. 08-44 and 08-45), and both Bills, As Amended, were enacted on October 21.
• The Council, sitting in its capacity as the Board of Health, heard a report from Susan Kelly, Acting Health Officer, which included statistics on the effects of the flu on the population and the economy.

September 2008 Highlights:

• The Council devoted a good portion of the month of September to working together with citizens and the Administration in a careful review of the Zoning Code Rewrite legislation.  Two public hearings were held to ensure that citizens had ample opportunity to present their views to the Council, in addition to meeting with individual Council members throughout the work days.
• The Council presented proclamations and recognized Francis L. Struben and Ruth Cobb as Harford Living Treasures, and proclamations were presented to Trooper First Class Justin M. Gross on his designation as Trooper of the Year and to the Health Department in declaration of Prostate Cancer Month.

August 2008 Highlights:

• The month of August was a very busy time for the Council after the County Executive's office delivered the legislation for the Zoning Code Rewrite (Bill No. 08-44) and the Zoning Code, Subdivision Regulations (Bill No. 08-45). 
• Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jacqueline Haas, and staff members gave a presentation to the Council and answered questions in reference to the Board of Education State Audit results.
• The Council recognized Adam Hiob with a certificate of achievement for his completion of the Leadership University, Washington, DC; and a proclamation was presented to Renae Hunter on her designation as Queen of the Chesapeake.

July 2008 Highlights:

• Bill No. 08-34 establishes a Priority Preservation Area Plan to be submitted to the Maryland Department of Planning for approval.  A Council amendment to the proposed plan expanded the Priority Preservation Area Plan to include the Upper Deer Creek Watershed area in addition to the Lower Deer Creek Watershed.
• The Council recognized the 2008 Cal Ripken World Series with the presentation of a proclamation from the County Executive and County Council.
• Director, Audra Caplan, and staff members of Harford County Public Libraries announced the many activities involved in the Summer Reading Program.

June 2008 Highlights:

• The Council approved the new Pay and Classification Plan for County employees which changed the compensation structure from grade/step levels to minimum/maximum levels.  This will allow more flexibility for Human Resources during the hiring process.  The changes in the Plan were based on a study conducted by the Smart Group.
• Exelon representatives gave a video presentation of the proposed Fishing Wharf and Trail project to be constructed at the Conowingo Dam site.
• Resolution No. 27-08 established a task force to study the status of MTBE and gasoline storage throughout the county.  The task force will consist of one appointee by each Council member.
• The Council recognized the 30 years of service of the Master Gardener's Program with the presentation of a proclamation.
• The nomination by the Council and staff of George Selby, Security Guard, as Employee of the Month, was accepted and recognized by the County Executive on June 26. 
• The Harford County Board of Education Recommendation Committee, established by Resolution No. 24-08, established a process for candidates for recommendation to the Governor to fill the vacancies on the Harford County Board of Education.  The committee consisted of Council Members Slutzky (Chair), McMahan and Guthrie; Senator Glassman; Delegate Stifler; and Frank Boston and Roxanne Lynch, representing the County Executive Office.
• The Council held three work sessions with representatives from Planning and Zoning to review the proposed draft of the Zoning Code along with recommendations of the Zoning Code Work Group sessions.

May 2008 Highlights:

• Upon conclusion of the work sessions and public hearings on the County budget, the Council heard the recommendations of the Citizens Budget Advisory Board in Legislative Session of May 6, and worked diligently on formulating amendments.  The final budget was approved on May 27 (Bill No. 08-32 (As Amended)).
• The Council proclaimed several dates this month:  Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Bike to Work Day, Public Works Weeks, and Cheif's Challenge Month.
• The Council also sits as the Board of Health.  In May and October of each year, the (Acting) Health Officer presents a report to the Council/Board of Health.  The report was presented during the May 13 Public Hearing session of the Council.
• The Council established its summer schedule:  (3) regularly scheduled meetings for June, July 8, August 5 and August 19.

April 2008 Highlights:

• The County Budget was delivered to the Council as of April 1, and the Council immediately began their review in work sessions scheduled throughout the month of April on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at 1:30 p.m. each day.  Each Department Head and appropriate personnel appear before the Council to review the respective departmental budget requests.  The public hearings on the Budget are scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on both April 29 at North Harford High School and May 1 at Havre de Grace High School.
• Bill No. 08-16 (Water and Sewer Master Plan Spring 2008 Update) was approved by the Council. Memorandum of Change No. 1 to the Water and Sewer Master Plan was approved which placed the Land of Moriatis, 1434 North Fountain Green Road, into the immediate priority category.  Memorandum of Change No. 2 was approved which placed the Von Paris and Hampden Moving and Storage, 701 Pulaski Highway, into the immediate priority category.  Memorandum of Change No. 3 was approved which placed the Vale Road Elementary School project into the immediate priority category.  An amendment by the Council kept the Swan Harbor Dell Mobile Home Park in No Planned Service status.
• The Council approved an increase for filing a zoning request during the comprehensive zoning process to $700, in addition to the existing $100 posting fee. 
• Bill No. 08-20, sponsored by Councilman Shrodes and President Boniface, added definitions of agricultural processed product and private farm market, and provides for the sale of agricultural processed products under certain circumstances and establishes a new retail use as a special development in the AG District.  One of the main changes allows the sale of unprocessed agricultural products up to 100% as long as the raw goods that make up the product are derived from the farm.  The legislation also reduces the acreage minimum from 20 to 10, removes the requirement of the number of hours worked by family members at a farm stand, and it removes the requirement for $15,000 in gross sales from the farms to be able to operate.
• The Council approved a supplemental appropriation for the Maryland Agriculture Land Preservation Foundation funding in the amount of $1 million.
• Two county properties were surplused upon approval by the Council:  2125 Edgewood Road to the Maryland Transit Administration, and property known as Land of Schucks Corner LLC to the Board of Education.
• National Library Week and National Public Health Week were proclaimed by the Council along with the County Executive.

March 2008 Highlights:

• The Council, along with the County Executive, proclaimed March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and March 9-15 as DeMolay International Week.  The Council also recognized each of the recipients who were awarded Charlie Riley Scholarships.
• Each Council member appointed a citizen representative to the Citizens Budget Advisory Board as follows:  District A - Gloria Moon; District B - Patricia Donovan; District C - Susan Heselton; District D - C. Darrel Comer; District E - Charles Ramsay, Jr.; District F - Robert Johnson (Chair).
• The Council approved Bill No. 08-14 which provides an Economic Development Opportunity Loan Fund for businesses needing assistance not to exceed $100,000.  The Council also approved Bill No. 08-15 which inserted the words "As Amended" in reference to the Fall 2007 Water and Sewer Master Plan Update.

February 2008 Highlights:

• During the February 5, 2008 Council Session, County Executive David R. Craig delivered his "State of the County" address and Council President Billy Boniface delivered his "Legislative Address 2008."  A video and text of these speeches can be found on the website.
• The Council is moving forward to fill the vacancy of the Harford County Health Officer.  Through the adoption of Resolution No. 15-08, the Council established the membership for a search committee to begin this process.
• Resolution No. 16-08 was adopted by the Council, authorizing the Director of  the Harford County Housing Agency to execute and file for grant assistance from the Department of Housing and Community Development, Rental Allowance Program, which will provide funding for use in making short term fixed monthly rental assistance payments to eligible recipients occupying eligible housing units.
• On February 12, the Council was given an update from Maryland Department of the Environment representatives regarding the courtesy notifications that MDE sends to residents located in the vicinity of 19 gasoline distribution facilities considered high risk areas for potential groundwater pollution.
• Resolution No. 17-08 was adopted by the Council in support of an application to be filed by the City of Havre de Grace to establish a portion of the municipality as an Arts and Entertainment District.
• The Council approved Bill No. 08-01 to establish an Economic Development Tourism Advisory Board, Bill No. 08-03 adopting the 2006 International Building and Residential Code standards, and Bill No. 08-04 authorizing the purchase of property located on MD Route 136 to be utilized by County Parks and Recreation for active recreation such as baseball/softball diamonds, soccer/lacrosse fields, and a regional recreational facility.
• On February 19, the Council approved the nomination of William Royall Cronin as a Harford Living Treasure and presented a proclamation to him.
• Resolution No. 18-08 was adopted by the Council, requesting the Governor, Lt. Governor and the Harford County Delegation to reconsider the delay of the Edgewood MARC Train Station improvements and to adhere to the original schedule set forth in the 2007-2012 Maryland Consolidated Transportation Program which projected completion of the project by 2009.
• The Council approved Bill No. 08-02 to provide sufficient funding for the settlement of 35 to 40 agricultural preservation easement purchases; and Bill Nos. 08-05 through 08-13, and Resolution Nos. 01-08 through 14-08, representing 1816 acres to be preserved under the agricultural land preservation program, were approved.