Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Baltimore City has proposed a 15 percent increase beginning in July.
Water service for county residents will not likely cost more despite a proposal by Baltimore City to raise rates by 15 percent. At least not this year. The increase proposed by city Department of Public Works would increase water bills by nearly $24 per quarter for the typical city water customers. The system supplies water to 1.8 million residents in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll and Howard Counties. Baltimore County absorbs some costs of the system through a complex agreement with the city. Other costs are paid for through the Metropolitan District Fund that is assessed as a line item on county property tax bills. "Given [the agreement] and the metropolitan fund balance, there was no need to pass this increase on to…
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Two former firefighters and a police officer could return to light duty as a result of the agreement.
Baltimore County officials said Thursday that they have settled three disability lawsuits with two firefighters and a police officer. "These settlements honor these employees for their past service while also ensuring that firefighters and police officers who serve the residents of Baltimore County are working in jobs that match their physical abilities for the safety of all," wrote Baltimore County Attorney Michael Field in a statement on the county's blog Thursday. "Residents of Baltimore County demand no less than this." As part of the settlement, the county does not admit any liability. In September, firefighters Donald Becker and Stanley Kuklinski and police Lt. Michael Lauenstein field lawsuits seeking $2.3 million in damages and …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Information session about jobs available will be held Feb. 28 at CCBC Essex.
SKW Constructors has announced it will hire as many as 100 direct employees at its Sparrows Point Shipyard and Industrial Park site. The company will also hire subcontractors that will hire additional carpenters, concrete finishers, mechanics, ironworkers, surveyors, truck drivers and laborers. The company has a contract to provide fans and huge reinforced concrete tubes for tunnels being built in Hampton Roads, VA, according to a statement from Baltimore County Government. "We are thrilled SKW is bringing jobs back to the Point," Baltimore County Councilman John Olszewski Sr said in the statement. "We will continue to work with the company to be sure our local workers and contractors benefit from this opportunity." SKW Constructors, a …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The 6th district councilwoman talks about her legislative experiences in 2012 and plans for this year.
After a grueling year of rezoning procedures, 6th district County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins is looking ahead to taking care of simpler things in 2013. Her priorities over the next 12 months include things like air conditioning in schools and job growth and whatever else her constituents bring to her. Someone taught me a very long time ago that when someone calls you or emails you or shows up in person, what they're talking about is the most important thing in their life at that moment," the Oliver Beach Democrat said in a recent interview in her Towson office. "So what's important to that person is what's important to this office." Asked to point to her biggest successes in 2012, Bevins pointed to the simple things, like securing funds to …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Trash and recycling pick-up will continue as scheduled on Monday.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 21 is a federal holiday, and most county offices will be closed for the day. Here's a rundown of what you need to know for next week. Schools: closed State and local government offices: closed Courts: closed Libraries: closed Health department clinics: closed Senior centers: closed CountyRide: Not in operation MTA: Holiday schedule, except for special inauguration day service on the MARC Penn and Brunswick lines. Trash and recycling: Normal pick-up schedule. Trash and recycling drop-off sites will be open. If you happen to be traveling to the Washington, D.C. area Monday morning and afternoon, watch for traffic for President Barack Obama's second inauguration.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Arbutus native John Coolahan served as the chair of the Baltimore County Delegation in 1973, 1975, and 1983 to 1986.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
A federal judge grants the county permission to seek an appeal while the damages phase of the trial continues.
Baltimore County will appeal a federal judge's ruling in October that found pension rules that charge some county employees different rates are discriminatory. At issue is an October ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Benson Everett Legg that found that the county's pension rules requiring different contribution rates from employees based on age violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. That ruling came after a federal appeals court overturned Legg's original ruling that was in favor of the county. The county asked Legg for permission to seek an appeal on his current ruling while the trial enters the damages phase. The county argued in a filing that it would need as long as two years to review as many as 10,000 pension …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The county executive once ordered a study of alternative work week schedules in 2008.
Some county employees could work from the comfort of their own homes as soon as January under a new policy announced Tuesday by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. "Telecommuting is a proven tactic that enables employers to reduce their carbon footprint by using readily available technology to cut down on employees' unnecessary travel to the workplace," Kamenetz said in a statement. Beginning next month, all non-probationary employees can request to participate in the program.The county will approve those requests on a case-by-case basis based on which jobs can be adapted to working from home, according to the release. Employees who wish to work from home must have telephone and Internet access. Those employees approved to work from home will…
Monday, December 3, 2012
Three major Wall Street companies give Baltimore County a Triple-A rating.
Baltimore County continues to maintain its coveted triple Triple-A bond rating companies. Fitch, Moody's and Standard and Poor's all gave the county its highest rating. Only about 1 percent of the counties in the United States have a Triple-A rating from all three companies. [All three reports are attached to this story.] The rating means the county can borrow money at the lowest available interest rates, which saves taxpayers money. All three companies cited the county's fiscal management and budget practices as reasons for the continued ratings. "If we are going to continue to fund public safety, education, and rebuild our aging infrastructure, we must continue to manage our budget in a fiscally responsible manner," County Executive …
Monday, November 19, 2012
Maryland Court of Appeals reverses lower court decision on a grievance filed over changes to health insurance costs.
As many as 400 retired police department employees could see a reduction in their health insurance costs and be due a refund for charges since 2007. A state Court of Appeals ruling Monday effectively affirmed arbitration and a Baltimore County Circuit Court decision on the case that dates back to 2007. [A copy of the court rulling is attached to this article.] The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4, which represents county police officers, filed a grievance five years ago after the county increased the costs of health insurance for employees who retired between Feb. 1, 1992 and June 30, 2007. On July 1, 2007, the county changed its share of retiree health insurance costs from an 85-15 split with retirees to an 84-16 percentage. The union …
Steve
12:18 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
You stalked this guy for more than a year??? He ought to get a restraining order. more ›