Monday, May 7, 2012
Former board member calls on his colleagues to resign after approving deal with Bill Madonna Golf Academy.
A controversial contract between the Baltimore County Revenue Authority and a Florida-based golf pro has been cancelled less than a year after it began. The termination of the contract less than a year after it was approved led one former board member—Les Pittler—to call for the resignation of several of his former colleagues. Donald Hutchinson, chairman of the authority's five-member board, said he negotiated a buyout of the contract. Bill Madonna will receive $25,000 and the right to teach at the authority's Greystone course for three consecutive weeks later this year in return for an early termination of the four-year agreement. "This is not a reflection of our unhappiness with the quality of the academy and the quality of the …
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The authority's board hired Kennth Mills at an annual salary that is higher than that of Baltimore County's executive.
Kenneth Mills will return to run the Baltimore County Revenue Authority nearly 20 years after he left the same position to work in the private sector. Mills, director of business development for Baltimore-based Southway Builders, was hired Tuesday as the new chief executive of the authority at a salary higher than Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Mills will be replacing William "Lynnie" Cook, who left unexpectedly last month, and is expected to start in early April. "(Mills) will be able to get off and running immediately," said Donald Hutchinson, chairman of the authority's board. "He's a nice guy, a strong leader and someone who understands this business." Mills was a finalist along with Cook nearly three years ago when the …
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Council approves new lease with Baltimore County Revenue Authority, improvements to the animal shelter and a $4.5 million bond issuance for a windshield wiper manufacturer in Halethorpe.
Opponents of a proposed transgender anti-discrimination bill returned to Towson Monday night to speak out against the proposed legislation. Ann Miller, a Republican activist, told the council that opponents "are not the bigotted, hate-mongers we're labeled as by the special interests backing this bill. "Our concerns are valid and serious and (the bill) would negatively impact the entire county," said Miller. The testimony of about 15 people was nearly identical to that given two weeks ago when Councilman Tom Quirk, a Catonsville Democrat, first introduced the bill. The bill will be similar to a law passed last month by the Howard County Council, Quirk said. Proponents of the legislation say it was spurred by a highly- publicized attack on …
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Revenue Authority chief arranged trip to the exclusive Pine Valley Golf Club through a contractor. But county and state ethics laws don't appear to apply to the agency.
A round of golf at storied Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey is an invitation-only experience enjoyed by an exclusive set of golfers, among them President George H.W. Bush, actor Sean Connery and champion player Arnold Palmer. Now add to that list William "Lynnie" Cook, chief executive of the Baltimore County Revenue Authority. But Cook's trip to one of the nation’s most exclusive courses—as the guest of a revenue authority contractor—is raising questions from ethics watchdog groups and state and county legislators. The golf outing has also highlighted an apparent hole in county ethics laws at a time when County Executive Kevin Kamenetz is seeking to strengthen the code. Ethics rules in Baltimore County and Maryland prohibit county and …
Buzz Beeler
11:54 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Now where have I heard that before - "including no-bid contracts with companies owned by people who had personal relationships with authority officials." It has a familiar ring to it like the sound of a 300 yard drive. more ›