Former Planning Board Member, Dundalk Bar Owner Takes Over Code Enforcement
Agency will be more proactive, vows van Dommelen.
A former planning board member has been named the head of the county's code enforcement division, an agency he once worked for as an inspector.
Lionel van Dommelen, a Dundalk resident, took over as the head of code enforcement early last month, according to Ellen Kobler, a county spokeswoman.
Van Dommelen previously worked for code enforcement as an inspector for about a year beginning in 2006. He said he took the position after business at a the Seahorse Inn, a bar he and Ed Crizer formerly owned, fell off after the Wise Avenue drawbridge was closed.
"County Executive [Jim] Smith was good enough to offer me a job," van Dommelen said. "I really enjoyed it. I've always had an interest in planning and code enforcement issues."
But van Dommelen resigned from the code enforcement inspection job after a year and returned to work at the bar when the drawbridge re-opened and business picked up.
The bureau that van Dommelen worked for as an inspector was known more for being complaint driven. As head of the agency, van Dommelen said he plans to make it much more proactive and has ordered inspectors to cite violations when they see them.
"If they see it on the way to a complaint they're going to be writing it up," said van Dommelen.
Crizer and van Dommelen recently sold their interests in the bar to Crizer's brother Kenny and van Dommelen's daughter Alexandra, according to county records and interviews with both Crizer and van Dommelen.
Crizer was appointed by Councilman John A. Olszewski Sr. to the county Board of Appeals as well as chairman of the County Council's Redistricting Commission.
Both Crizer and van Dommelen are still partners in Oakleigh Beach Management, a coporation that owns the Wise Avenue building where the Seahorse Inn is located, according to van Dommelen.
Last year, Olszewski named van Dommelen to the county Planning Board—a position he held until he resigned in February to become head of code enforcement.
Van Dommelen said he didn't apply to be head of code enforcement.
"I'm sure Johnny put my name in," said van Dommelen, adding that he met County Executive Kevin Kamenetz while volunteering on his campaign.
Olszewski was also an early supporter of Kamenetz's county executive bid.
Kobler said Kamenetz personally selected van Dommelen, who will be paid about $85,000 annually.
He replaces Mike Mohler, the brother of Don Mohler, Kamenetz's chief of staff and director of communications.
Mike Mohler was hired in August 2007 by then-County Executive Jim Smith as the county's second deputy director of permits and development management, a position that hadn't existed prior to his hiring. At the time, the county did not conduct a candidate search for what was then a $96,000 per year job overseeing the county's code enforcement inspectors.
Mike Mohler was named administrator for the Board of Liquor License Commissioners soon after Kamenetz was sworn in as county executive. Mohler will make $98,500—the same as his salary in code enforcement.
Prior to working for the county, van Dommelen spent 20 years working for the Operating Engineers Union Local 37, including eight years as vice president.
Van Dommelen is a lifelong Dundalk resident where he lives with his wife of 25 years. The couple has four children.
al
7:11 am on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
It would be nice if the unemployed people in Baltimore County had a few friends in Towson then they could just stand by and be bailed out for $85K a year. You've got to be friggin kidin!!!!!
tom
8:15 am on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Al, its all about being a member of the good old boys network. They always take care of each other and thats the reason we have such a lousy goyernment.
Dundalkwatchdog
11:10 am on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Brian. I had higher hopes for u. What a fluff piece. If the schools hired a teacher with 1 year experience to run the schools u would go after them. Maybe running a bulldozer or selling beers is enough experience gor but not me. Remember the Kamenetz news conference with the guy holding the sign that read "Joe voted no and took the dough" that guy was vandommelin. There are so many qualifird people looking for work and they give him a job he didn't even bother to apply for. Brian, are u really that nieve u didny know the bar changed owners so he could hold the job. Where are the hard questions? Is this really journalism?
Dundalkwatchdog
11:14 am on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sorry about the spelling errors. But u get the idea
Bryan P. Sears
11:32 am on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Dundalkwatchdog: I do remember that news conference but I don't remember van Dommelen specifically. It happens. As for the transfer of licenses... The license was transferred before he began his employment which is how it usually works.
I think things would be different if he still maintained the license and his office had to inspect a suspected violation at the business.
That being said, I did report that van Dommelen and Crizer maintain ownership of the building through a corporation listed at the same address as the bar.
Bruce Robinson
12:03 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
I need to grab a shower.
Mary
2:15 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Really - Violations - Underage drinking never happens at the Seahorse Inn :/ And I agree with Dundalkwatchdog - Let's dig into the real guts of this story!
Buzz Beeler
2:27 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
This incident is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much going on in the county that would boggle the mind. I am confident that these issues will come to a head soon.
There are those of us who still believe in a government for the people and by your friends, excuse me, the people.
A house a cards can only last so long before it comes crashing down.
Mary
2:56 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Seems kind a ironic that the change of proprietorship just happens to be approved prior to this annoucement - Please, do you really think most of the citizens of Baltimore County are uneducated idiots? Well, let me rephrase that - They voted in Kamenetz didn't they!!!!
Mary
3:11 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Here is the the link - Scroll down to Ice Mountain Adventures LLC
http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/liquorboard/2011hearingresults/022811results.html
Buzz Beeler
4:02 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Mary, well done. I guess these guys think that we the citizens and taxpayers are clueless. If you get chance read my response on the Hariston issue.
One of the good ole boys seemed to doubt my credibility. You'll also find another link to the councilman's hiring practices. You will have to scroll down to Saint Agnes Lane and read the name of the inspector. Kinda rings a bell.
Mary
5:09 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Olszewski, Justin - Now that was interesting reading - Stay the course Buzz!
Juliana L'Heureux
6:14 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Maybe the code enforcement officer will enforce some codes, like keeping bars from expanding in residential neighborhoods when those adjacent to the property don't want them to!
Brad Metheny
6:55 am on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Good point. We are also involved in a similar situation that has been dragging on for over 6 years. Very little support from our County Government in the beginning. As this has been able to draw so much attention to itself there now are many eyes on Balt. Co. waiting to see how they deal with it.
Buzz Beeler
7:11 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Mary, thank you. There is no special link on the Hariton issue. A commentator accused me of not being truthful so I had to set them straight. It just happened on that particular article.
We all need to informed and keep our elected officials honest. I sincerely believe that sites like this will have a positive impact regarding the accountability of those we elect.
Mary
7:16 pm on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
No problem Buzz - I clicked on your name and was able to read the entire comment list that was created over that article. Very interesting reading and yes Justin Olszewski's name does ring a bell. Keep up the good work keeping people informed. Just like the old saying goes "You can lead the horse to water and they will always drink the koolaid" :)
amdactivist
7:19 am on Saturday, April 30, 2011
when are they going to bust their friend entrepreneur that owns many apartment buildings like holabird east. I just can't remember his name. He's been paying off big to all of them. His apartments are crumbling and people complain and it does no good. ..
Buzz Beeler
11:29 am on Saturday, April 30, 2011
Frank Scarfield is the owner of Holabird East Apartments. He is currently involved in a civil suit against John Vontran.
Beyond that Google could tell you more than I can.
amdactivist
12:30 pm on Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thanks Buzz, i remembered scarface not Scarfield.. but didn't want to seem to obnoxious even though he is one..
Sammi
11:00 am on Thursday, July 21, 2011
OHMYGAWD-----this is the person who will enforce the County code against illegal boarding house landlords of the "student ghettos" surrounding Towson University. Baltimore County politicians never cease to amaze----when the going gets tough, get a County job and just sit back and count your bank deposits. I thought no one could be more indifferent than Mike Mohler, but looks like I will probably be proven wrong. Will there be buses meeting at the corner of York and Burke to carry students to the Dundalk bar? Lets hope so----at least that will get the drinkers out of the neighborhood for a short while.