It is without question that I wish to serve my community. Since my initial beginnings of developing an afterschool program in Edgewood, MD at Anthony’s Barbershop, I have collaborated and donated personal time and financial resources to non-profit organizations like Harford County based Gospel of Life Ministries to help the unfortunate. Over the last year, I have served as a Board Member on the Joppa/ Joppatowne Community Council. During this timeframe I have cultivated a deeper appreciation for the needs of an established community. Concurrently, I was drawn towards the needs of the neighboring community of Edgewood; of which is fighting to change its status among the county. To ensure the success of this conversion, I avidly attend and support the Edgewood Community Council meetings and Servefest functions that better our community. I am a mentor for ...Continue Reading
Proposed Changes to Senate Rules Good News for Marylanders
Annapolis, MD- In an effort to better inform the public through greater access to the state legislative process, Senator Barry Glassman R-35 joined Senate Minority Leader Allan Kittleman (R- Carrol & Howard Counties) and Senate Majority Whip Nancy Jacobs (R-Harford & Cecil Counties) this week in supporting changes to the rules governing the Senate
If approved by the Senate, beginning immediately, these new Senate rules will provide the public with “real time” internet access to all Senate committee votes, as well as, specifically address the public’s right to attend all Senate committee meetings, including Senate committee voting sessions.
“Marylanders are seeking more transparency and timely access in the legislative process. My proposal represents an important step towards expanding this access to all individuals even those that cannot be present in Annapolis during our deliberation,” said ...Continue Reading
Is Harford County’s impact fee a vital source of revenue for public school construction, or an unfair tax that has stymied new home sales?
Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie (Dist. A) says it’s the latter. Along with co-sponsor Chad Shrodes (Dist. D), Guthrie introduced legislation on September 15th to repeal the county’s impact fee.
Guthrie, who voted against imposing the fee in 2005, said in a phone interview that the impact fee was not generating the revenue that was originally anticipated and it was not stimulating the economy. Guthrie said “It’s time to get rid of it.” He said the revenue lost by repealing the impact fee could be “easily overcome” by the revenues generated from increased economic activity resulting from more homes being built.
The impact fee is a set amount charged to developers to help offset the impact of new homes on the cost of public schools. ...Continue Reading
The following letter was sent to Gov. Martin O’Malley by Senate Minority Leader Allan H. Kittleman and Senate Minority Whip Nancy Jacobs. A copy was provided to The Dagger.
September 17, 2009
Governor Martin O’Malley
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401
Dear Governor O’Malley
The members of the Senate Republican Caucus have been troubled by the national scandal exposed over the past week about actions of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform) staff members who offered advice on undertaking criminal activity and defrauding federal and state governments. The fact that the first release of such information involved ACORN staff operating in Baltimore City has blemished our state’s reputation.
We are also concerned about the lack of interest by those responsible for upholding the state’s laws in proceeding with an investigation of these actions of ACORN. Both Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia Jessemy and Attorney General Douglas Gansler have offered public commentary on the Shari ...Continue Reading
If you are a high school senior or college student enrolled full time in a Maryland institute of higher education then you may be eligible for a Maryland State Senatorial Scholarship from Senator Nancy Jacobs. You can learn more details about this scholarship at http://www.nancyjacobs.com/Site/Education/index.htm .
Applicants must be a resident of District 34 (verify via http://mdelect.net and insert home address) and attending full time a Maryland institute of higher education (community and private colleges or institutions do count). New awards will be for the fall 2010-2011 calendar school year.
Applicants are asked to return the scholarship form asap or by the end of March 31, 2009. Questions? Please call 410-841-3158 and ask for Kathie or e-mail nancy.jacobs@senate.state.md.us.
Sincerely,
Nancy Jacobs
State Senator
District 34–Harford & Cecil Counties”
Senate Bill 629
Harford County-Board of Education-Selection of Members
Senators Glassman, Harris and Jacobs
Annapolis, MD The Senate version of Harford’s elected school board legislation has received a favorable vote from the Senate’s Education and Environmental Affairs Committee and should be headed to the full body Friday or Monday evening. The Senate unanimously approved a similar bill last year.
Glassman said he was hopeful that bill, which would begin phasing in a blended board with six elected members and three appointed members in the 2010 elections with three seats, will receive action in the House this year.
MD State Senator Nancy Jacobs (R, 34) has asked for an opinion from the Attorney General, Doug Gansler on the upcoming redistricting practice.
Jacobs has requested that the Attorney General issue an opinion to determine whether or not legislative districts should be determined per person or per citizen.
Rather than wait until Election Day to let their representatives know how they feel about them, Edgewood residents recently participated in an appraisal process measuring the relationship between their officials and the community they purportedly represent.
Looking at the results, it’s immediately clear that Edgewood loves Harford County Councilman Dion Guthrie, but feels County Council President Billy Boniface and others “often fail to fulfill expectations of the community.”
This news was passed along this morning by Delegate Dan Riley:
“Hotel tax, for Harford County, killed in the Senate.
It is with great disappointment I’ve learned the hotel tax for Aberdeen was killed in the Senate.
The bill was doing well until someone offered an amendment. The amendment was accepted and became part of the bill thus killing Aberdeen’s chances of getting the hotel tax this year. I do not know what Senator was behind the amendment, I can only guess…maybe a friend of Hess?
I will bring the bill back next year, and the next year, and the next year…until it passes or the opposition, in the Senate, to the bill is retired by the voters.”
If state Sen. Barry Glassman has his way, he will not give Harford County or the City of Aberdeen the ability to put a new tax on hotel/motel rooms anytime soon – unwelcome news to a financially-strapped city that was looking to finally secure the much sought after lodging surcharge.
While the rest of the city toiled with transition teams, inner turmoil among a feuding police department and ethics violations, old and new, at least one group of Aberdeen residents actually tried to get something done the old fashioned way – traveling by bus to Annapolis last week in support of the latest push to implement a hotel/motel room tax in Harford County.
Harford County is the lone jurisdiction in Maryland without the authorization to impose and collect a minimal fee on each night’s stay in such lodging. Yet its best chance yet to get the proposition passed – with a new ...Continue Reading
