Councilman Ladd Highlights October's Council Progress

The following is from the November edition of a monthly column written by Anne Arundel County Councilman Dick Ladd (R-5th District), a resident of the Broadneck peninsula. It is edited by Patch for style.

Thanks to everyone who voted recently, especially for working your way through all 22 ballot questions. Referendums are an increasingly important tool for our democratic process to ensure fidelity in action on contentious issues.

In recent weeks, the County Council has focused on adjustments to current policy:  Considering situations requiring mandatory reimbursement for legal support provided and for settlements paid by the County for legal actions against County employees; limiting the number of unions available for County employees to join; and providing an additional $5 million payment to the Board of Education. The latter has been taken from the County Contingency Fund with the hope that the Fund can be replenished if tax receipts meet current forecasts.

Several small but worthy community items of note:

The American flag is again proudly flying at the Severna Park Library. With the installation of a new, solar-powered spotlight, our flag will be properly displayed 24 hours a day. We owe a special thanks to our Librarian, Karen Mansbridge.

We recently celebrated the 160th birthday of Severna Park Elementary School.  What a joy to celebrate and see the continuing renewal and pursuit of Severna Park’s heritage of academic excellence at its longest serving “root stock”. The tradition of excellence is alive, well, and in good hands.

I would also like to note the recent opening of Arundel Pediatric Dental Care (on Veterans Highway next to Ledo’s Pizza).  Arundel Pediatric Dental Care has a “welcomed” sub-specialty of working with special needs patients of all ages.  

Coincidentally, contractors for the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works will soon be establishing an exclusive left turn lane on Northbound Veterans Highway just north of Benfield Road to improve traffic flow in that area. 

Congratulations go out to Barbara Morgan of Cape St. Claire.  She was recently recognized by the Anne Arundel County Trust for Preservation for her hard work to preserve the Goshen Farm (located behind Cape St. Claire Elementary School).  Barbara was recognized as the Preservation Volunteer of the Year for her leadership in raising funds for restoration of the Goshen Farm (or the “old Radoff house”) which dates back to 1788 on land actively farmed starting in the mid-1600’s.  To learn more about Goshen Farm, visit the organization's website, www.goshenfarm.org.

Finally, a reminder for all homeowners:  Make sure that you and your family are signed up for the Homestead Tax Credit Program before the December 31, 2012, deadline.  This credit protects homeowners from increases in property tax bills due to regularly scheduled reassessments. For eligible homeowners, property tax can increase by no more than 2% in any year. For more information on the credit, visit the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation website, http://www.dat.state.md.us. To see if you have applied for the credit, visit http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/rp_rewrite.  Type in Anne Arundel County and your street number and name (no Drive, Lane, Avenue, etc.).  Press “Search” and scroll to the bottom of the page and check “Homestead Application Status.”

Anne Arundel County is truly an amazing place to live and it is with great pleasure that I serve the constituents of District 5. If there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to call my office at 410-222-1401 or e-mail me at dladd@aacounty.org.

Read more columns by Ladd:

• Ladd Against Limiting County Executive's Veto Power (October)
• Ladd Reviews Charter Amendments on Nov. Ballot (September)
• Councilman Ladd: Schools Benefiting from Budget Actions (August)
• Councilman Ladd Outlines Local Budget Impacts (July)
• Ladd: Council Will Address Bylaws This Month (June)