It was truly an honor to participate in the Memorial Day Observance on May 26, 2008.  The ceremony honoring our fallen Maryland soldiers was emotional and touching.  I stood with Lt. Governor Brown and Major General Tuxill and handed the families of the fallen soldiers plaques and shared heartfelt condolences and appreciation for their sacrifice. 

There were ten soldiers that were honored this year:

CPL Jonathan V. Hamm                                      SGT Princess C. Samuels

SGT. Casey W. Nash                                           SPC Ari D. Brown-Weeks

SFC Robert E. Dunham                                       SFC Robin L. Towns, Sr. 

CPL Brandon M. Craig                                        SPC Micheal B. Matlock, Jr.

SGT Scott L. Kirkpatrick                                     SFC Collin J. Bowen

 

Let us never forget that freedom is not free.  Thank you to all who were there to show your gratitude, pride and support for those who sacrifice for our United State of America.

Below is a letter sent on behalf of the 42nd District to County Executive Jim Smith regarding the issues surrounding the proposed expansion efforts at Loch Raven High School.   A subsequent letter was sent by the 42nd District to the State Comptroller to withhold the funds.  This request will be discussed in Annapolis at the Board of Public Works meeting on May 21, 2008 at 10:00am.  I will be attending.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

The Honorable James Smith
Baltimore County Executive
400 Washington Avenue
Towson, MD  21204

Dr. Joe Hairston
Baltimore County Superintendent
6901 Charles Street
Towson, MD  21204
Dear County Executive James Smith and Dr. Joe Hairston:

We are writing to you to request that you hold a meeting with concerned parents, community residents and the Chatterleigh Association regarding the proposed Loch Raven High School expansion.  Many individuals have contacted us in Annapolis and asked for information and help understanding this issue. Since the County budget is being presented this month, our hope is that you will respond and schedule a meeting as soon as possible.

Many issues concerning this expansion were brought to our attention while we were in Annapolis for the 2008 legislative session.  This includes:

(1) What issues were revealed in the Feasibility Study? 

(2) Why has this project been pushed up the 2009 priority list?

(3) Has a traffic study been conducted for the intersection of Cowpens and Cromwell Bridge Road?  What are the findings?

(4) Has there been an environmental study regarding the impact of Mine Bank Run? What are the findings?

(5) What are the processes regarding community input meetings when dealing with school enhancements and renovation?

(6) Does this affect redistricting?
(7) Explain the process of the planning time line (one year) and the expected time of construction (two years)?

(8) Explain whether the County looked at other sites to fulfill the increasing High School Student capacity issue impacting our area?

Please understand that we are concerned about the lack of public input.  This fact alone has brought much suspicion to the County’s process and this does not reflect well in regards to representation. We urge you to be responsive and inform the surrounding community associations and interested parties as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence since the Development Review Committee is scheduled to vote on this issue next Monday.

Thank you in advance for addressing these issues and responding to our letter as promptly as possible.

Sincerely,
Delegate Susan L.M. Aumann       Delegate William J. Frank        Delegate Stephen Lafferty
Senator James Brochin

cc:
Honorable T. Bryan McIntire
Honorable Vince Gardina
Honorable S. G. Samuel Moxley
Honorable Kevin Kamenetz
Honorable Kenneth Oliver
Honorable Joseph Bartenfelder
Honorable John Olszewski, Sr.
Mr. Jeff Mayhew, Baltimore County Planning Board
Dr. Laurie Mitchell, Chatterleigh Community Association

This is the most recent letter to County Exectutive Jim Smith regarding the Baltimore County School Board approving constructing a new elementary school on the Ridge-Ruxton campus sent on May 15, 2008. 

Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith, Jr.
Old Courthouse Mezzanine
400 Washington Avenue
Towson, MD  21204

Dear County Executive James Smith, Jr.:

As we have previously written and discussed in person, the situation concerning overcrowding in Towson area elementary schools is critical.  I realize you have been fully briefed by our mutual constituents, other elected officials, and school administrators about the overwhelming need for a resolution to this problem.  You indicated that the School Board bore the responsibility to make this project a priority.  Indeed, the Board has stepped up to the plate and made the decision to support the construction of a new school on the grounds of the Ridge Ruxton School on Charles Street.

I heartily applaud the action of the School Board, although I believe it was long overdue.  The next crucial step in the process is for the County to fund the construction project. I believe that the capital expenditure for this new elementary school should be a priority.  The families we represent in the many neighborhoods in the Towson area deserve nothing less.  Tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars are paid in real estate and income taxes by citizens in these communities to Baltimore County.  The children of our constituents are entitled to appropriate facilities in which they should receive their education.

Having had the opportunity to visit the existing elementary schools in Towson on numerous occasions, I am consistently impressed with the quality of the students, teachers and parents.  Most recently, I joined Comptroller Franchot at Rodgers Forge Elementary School where we again saw educational excellence in action.  We also witnessed firsthand the real need for classroom space (not trailers) to accommodate the expected increase in enrollment.  I have also attended dozens of meeting with parents, school administrators and community leaders who have repeated the same point – Towson needs a new school.

I urge you, in the strongest and most respectful of terms, to please allocate the necessary funds to build this elementary school as soon as possible.  It is absolutely the right decision to make and we are counting on you to do it.

Thank you for your help in this important matter.
 

Sincerely,

Delegate, Susan L.M. Aumann

AAA Bond Rating

Maryland State Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp announced last week that all three major bond rating agencies again have affirmed the State’s strong Triple AAA bond rating in preparation for the sale of $400 million of General Obligation bonds.

Maryland is one of only seven states to be awarded the AAA rating, the highest possible rating, from all three major bond rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s. The rating means that the State can borrow money to undertake new critical building projects such as public schools, hospitals and prisons while paying relatively low interest rates and saving taxpayers millions of dollars.

The Maryland Board of Public Works, comprising Governor Martin O’Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Kopp, completed the successful sale of $400 million of General Obligation bonds. The bonds sold at an interest rate of 4.14%. The winning bidder was Merrill Lynch & Company. The sale occurred during the bi-weekly meeting of the State’s Board of Public Works.

Proceeds from the capital improvement bonds will cover the acquisition and construction of State facilities; public schools; community colleges; jails and correctional facilities, as well as grants to local governments and non-profit institutions for hospitals, cultural and other projects.

Computer Service Tax

Thank you to all that attended the rally on Wednesday against the 6% tax on computer services. This was a law that was unfairly placed on computer services during the Special Session. I hope that the majority of the General Assembly realizes the potential harm that this tax will do. Remember the move of Maryland National Bank’s credit card company’s MBNA that moved to Delaware because of the tax burden? I hope that the Assembly has more wisdom than greed in understanding the potential loss of computer service business in our state.

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