The Harford County People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board
operates under the Harford County Council and by the authority of Bill No. 76-103 (as
amended). It will perform its functions in line with the following policy guidelines.
A. The People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board will always
strive to serve the best interests of the citizens of Harford County, both present and
future, and will give special attention to those matters involving low and moderate income
families.
B. The People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board will avoid
all political considerations in reviewing and considering those matters before them.
C. All meetings of the People's Counsel Citizens Advisory
Board will be open to the public.
D. In considering whether or not to direct the People's
Counsel to enter his appearance in a zoning matter, the Citizens Advisory Board will
follow an established procedure to ascertain all pertinent facts prior to rendering its
decision. The Board will attempt to maintain consistency in its decisions as they relate
to development in Harford County.
E. The Citizens Advisory Board may be requested to consider
a matter by any citizen or citizen's group of Harford County, the County Council, or
People's Counsel.
F. The People's Counsel Citizens Advisory board will act on
all cases it is requested to consider.
G. Decisions upon whether or not to direct People's Counsel
to enter a specific zoning matter will be based upon both the short and long range impacts
on the interests of the public. Considerations shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Conformity with the Harford County Master Land Use
Plan.
(2) Availability of public water and sewer lines.
(3) Impact on the public school system.
(4) Impact on the fire and police protections systems of
the County.
(5) Impact on traffic and the availability of an adequate
road system.
(6) The impact that a zoning matter will bear on future
zoning applications in the general vicinity.
(7) The need for future County services such as public
water, sewerage, schools, fire and police protection, etc.
H. The People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board will seek
to effect a resolution to all cases as efficiently and economically as possible. To this
end, it is the policy of the Board to apply graduated effort in the following manner:
(1) Recommend solution by administrative or legal action by
appropriate officials.
(2) Recommend the use of private counsel, if appropriate.
(3) Direct action by the People's Counsel to enter the case
and pursue it to a final decision in those cases where the People's Counsel has standing.
I. The People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board may make
recommendations to the County Council in all instances in which it learns of legal,
administrative or procedural errors, omissions or practices which influence the zoning
classification or reclassification of land in Harford County with the view of contributing
to such greater efficiency and economy as may be deemed to be in the public interest of
the citizens of Harford County.
A. Meetings shall be formally called to order by the
Chairman.
B. Minutes of past meetings shall be presented for approval
by the Board. Minutes shall be brief and shall contain as a minimum the actions of the
Board on matters presented to it for consideration.
C. Matters to be brought before the Board shall be
considered in the order stated in the agenda unless by majority vote of the members
present that the order is to be re?established.
(1) Persons bringing matters to the attention of the Board
shall present their matters to the Board.
(2) Persons who may have differing opinions on the matter
shall then be allowed to present their position.
(3) The People's Counsel may make such comments as desired.
(4) The Board shall consider the matter presented to them
and take such action as may be legal and necessary.
D. The Board having considered all matters on the agenda
before a meeting shall adjourn.
