Strange Bedfellows

Councilman Vince Gardina’s resignation from his job as a substitute teacher has ended a review by the county attorney but hasn’t stopped some from raising questions about whether it is appropriate for a council member to work as a teacher in the county.

Republican former Councilman Wayne Skinner said he believes that an agency that receives “50 cents of every dollar in the county budget” is clearly a county agency. Working for the system is clearly a problem, he said.

Skinner has some experience with such issues. He was an administrator for the state Department of Assessments and Taxation at the same time he served as a councilman — a position we now know is in conflict with holding office as a councilman in the county, according to the County Charter. (more…)

Last week several councilman grilled county school system officials on the subject of air conditioning in some schools, specifically Ridgely Middle School.

But not everyone felt the focus should be solely on comfort.

Councilman Vince Gardina, a 5th District Democrat who represents aan area that stretches from Perry Hall to Towson, is the council’s conscience when it comes to green issues, and last Thursday’s budget hearing with the schools system was no different. For about five minutes, Gardina turned the focus on sweltering classrooms into a discussion about energy conservation. (more…)

County Executive Jim Smith will be watching the County Council’s Spending Affordability Committee closely tomorrow as he prepares his budget for the coming year.

Of particular interest will be the committee’s final recommendations on how much the county budget can grow. That number likely will determine whether or not county employees will receive raises.

“It would be wonderful to reward our employees,” said Don Mohler, a spokesman for Smith. (more…)

County Executive Jim Smith will make a rare appearance before the County Council later today.

Smith will be wearing his other hat, as president of the Maryland Association of Counties, when he appears with David Bliden, who is retiring executive director of the association.

The pair will speak for 10-15 minutes about the successes of MACo in advocating for the interests of local jurisdictions including Baltimore County, according to a source familiar with Smith’s appearance. (more…)

Laurie Taylor-Mitchell, an education activist, is trying to keep attention focused on the need for air conditioning in more than half of the county’s schools.

The school system is currently examining the costs of adding to or upgrading air conditioning in all county schools. That report is expected to be completed next month.

In the meantime, Taylor-Mitchell, a member of the school system’s Central Area Advisory Council, has taken her case to the County Council. On Oct. 6, she urged the council to look at the costs of funding the upgrades through county bonds.