Last updated 1/11/12
Key Points of interest. . .
Hernwood Elementary Receives New Marquee Sign !new!
Kings Park Association donated $200 toward the purchase and install of Hernwood's new school sign board. As you know, we use the school to hold our community meetings on the 3rd Monday of each month during the school year, but we also wanted to show support for our local school. Please read the acknowledgement below.
Keith Dyson, President
On behalf of County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, Big Thanks and Happy New Year to everyone involved in the Sign Project. Julian and Ms.Shannon did an excellent job keeping this project moving and at the forefront of the PTA initiatives, you did a fantastic job. Principal Gantz cannot thank you enough for your leadership, dedication and commitment to the school and students, you supported this project from beginning to end with words and most importantly funding. Mike Sines School Facilities Dept. for working tirelessly on this project and giving us good guidance and support. Mike is the one who makes things happen in Facilities. Danny Blount and Keith Dyson respective Presidents of their Community Associations thank you for caring and supporting this project, it is always good when communities partner with schools on projects such as these, thanks for your leadership. Thanks to Speaker Pro Tem Delegate Adrienne Jones for her behind the scenes support and phone calls to School Facilities Dept. that was a huge help. This was a true collaborative effort between PTA (Julian Jones & Ms. Shannon Dawkins), County Schools (Cathy Gantz & Mike Sines), County Government (Kevin Kamenetz), State Government (Delegate Adrienne Jones) & Community (Danny Blount & Keith Dyson), the sign looks GREAT. Again great job, let us know if there is anything we can assist with in the future and also keep us posted on upcoming events. Thanks again everyone and Congratulations. Tony.
Duane "Tony" Baysmore, Special Assistant Baltimore County Executive Office
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ALERT!! Court Ruling - Ground Rent Extinguishments
At our September 19, 2011 general community meeting, we had representatives from Office of Assessment for Baltimore County to explain the property tax assessments. Also, we had a Kings Park Estates resident explain the process for applying for the residential ground rent extinguishment. One of the residents who applied and received a Certificate of Extinguishment contacted me, because he received a letter concerning the information below. The letter informed him that he must resume paying ground rent and become current on any prior payments not made. Also, if you recorded the Certificate of Extinguishment in Land Records, you probably paid a fee to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the right to record a document in Land Records. At this time, there is no statutory authority providing for a refund of that fee. If you have any questions, see contact information below. This information will be posted on our website and in our December newsletter.
Keith Dyson
UPDATE - Residential Ground Rent Extinguishment
The Maryland Court of Appeals has ruled that the extinguishment of ground rents for failure to register them with the State is unconstitutional. All ground rents that would have been extinguished for failure to register them are as valid as they were before the registration deadline. Any Certificate of Extinguishment issued by this Department is void and has no effect. (http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/extinguishgroundrent.html)
Filed: October 25, 2011, MD Court of Appeals; http://mdcourts.gov/opinions/coa/2011/140a10.pdf
If you have questions about Residential Ground Rents send your inquiries to groundrent@dat.state.md.us or telephone 410-767-4880.
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Emergency Alert System Testing
On Wednesday, November 9, at 2 p.m. (Eastern), Baltimore County will participate in the first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Below is the link to the news release:
www.baltimorecountymd.gov/News/releases/1006eastest.html
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New Redistricting Boundaries for Randallstown and Woodlawn
Very Important -
Balto. Co. redistricting plan approved - baltimoresun
Liberty Road group challenges Balto. Co. redistricting - baltimoresun
http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/countycouncil/redistricting.html
Oliver-offers-redistricting-amendment-hints-at-legal-action
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Oliver’s redistricting vote disappoints supporters
County Councilman Kenneth N. Oliver (D-4th) faces disgruntled supporters at a meeting after his vote in favor of a County Council redistricting plan he has said he opposes.
Kandice C. Wilson
Posted: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 2:30 pm | Updated: 2:35 pm, Tue Oct 11, 2011.
The unanimous approval of a Baltimore County Council redistricting bill has community members in a Woodlawn High School precinct surprised and confused and ready to start a campaign to bring council redistricting to a full county vote in the next election.
At a meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Woodlawn Community Center, a group of about 50 community leaders and residents had questions concerning Councilman Kenneth N. Oliver's (D-4th) vote. Oliver had objected to the county's redistricting commission plan, which would move a large Woodlawn precinct from the 4th District to the 1st District, and had submitted an amendment to the bill. Although he initially thought he had enough support for his redistricting amendment to pass, he found out that was not the case and decided to vote along with the rest of the council, giving the bill a 7-0 vote count.
"I made the decision and I stand by it," Oliver said.
His amendment would have moved a Featherbed Lane precinct to the 1st District represented by Councilman Tom Quirk and left the Woodlawn High School precinct in the 4th district.
Oliver's plan would have given the 1st and 4th districts a more equal population. The approved redistricting plan will move more than 6,000 voters to the 1st District, and make the 4th District the smallest, population-wise, in the county.
Community members at the meeting expressed their disappointment and wanted to know why Oliver chose to vote with the rest of the council rather than abstaining.
"I could have but I didn't," he said.
The overall sentiment at the meeting was that if Oliver had abstained, the message would have been clearer to them that he was on their side. "It would have made us feel good," Stevenswood Improvement Association president Aaron Plymouth said.
The purpose of the strategic planning meeting was to first, inform people of the decision, and to let them know what the options are moving forward. "We're here today to put together our army to fight this cause," Powhatan Farms Improvement Association president Aaron Barnett said.
Their main concern with the redistricting plan is that the change will weaken the 4th District's voting power and the center of the area's economic redevelopment. The plan would move a Woodlawn precinct that includes the Social Security Administration complex into District 1.
The Woodlawn Enterprise Zone, which helps spur economic development with tax incentives, and the proposed Baltimore Red Line transit system would be moved out of the 4th District and into the 1st under the new map. The group is also concerned that the proposed redistricting changes will put Woodlawn schools in different council districts.
People at the meeting were given a copy of the redistricting bill and a list of guidelines for gathering petition signatures.
While Oliver is in negotiations with an attorney to consider his options and assess the funding needed to file a lawsuit, community members plan to begin gathering more than 55,000 signatures for the bill to beplaced on the 2012 ballot. In order to force a referendum, enough signatures must be gathered to at least equal 10 percent of the number of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, or about 29,000.
Petition gatherers plan to collect many more than required, in case some are deemed invalid. "The [redistricting] law is unfair and we're not satisfied with the vote," Liberty Road Community Council director Ella White Campbell said in her closing remarks.
The group has created a website, www.lrcc.info , which includes a map of Baltimore County, a copy of the redistricting bill, the petition, forms, guidelines, and a script for petition circulators. The first one-third of the signatures is due on Nov. 7. Petition gatherers will then have an additional 30 days to turn in the remaining amount. The new redistricting boundaries are to become effective in 2014.
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State Dept of Assessment - Ground Leases (please see the latest update at the top of this page)
The information below is from a Kings Park resident. Also, as this resident requested, he will share this information during our next general meeting in September. The information is provided from our resident who successfully extinguished his ground rent and is shared here as a guide only to assist you through the process. Results are based on each individual case. Ground lease
Mr. Dyson, I hope this email finds you doing well. I wanted to pass along this important information, and will leave it to you to decide how to get it out to the community. I am a 21 year resident of Kings Park. When I purchased my home I was made aware that the property was subject to a ground lease, and I paid the ground rent with regularity. Through the years my wife and I considered redeeming the ground rent, but there were always other "financial" priorities. I was informed a few months ago that the State passed legislation in 2007 that required holders of any ground leases to register them with the State Department of Assessment (SDAT) by September 30, 2010. If the ground leases were not registered by that time the homeowner could request through SDAT that the lease be extinguished. It sounds too good to be true, right? I checked on the SDAT Real Property web page and found that the holder of my lease did not register the lease in time. I wrote the letter to SDAT requesting a Certificate of Extinguishment and received it shortly in the mail. As required, I recorded the Certificate in the Baltimore County Land Records, and the fee simple title of my property in now vested to me without any rights or interest of the original ground lease holder. The entire process took approximately 3 weeks and cost $40 to record the Certificate. I shared this information with my next door neighbor, and he too was successful in extinguishing his ground lease. Attached is a copy of the process off the SDAT website. click here
Thanks very much for your volunteer service.
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Jobs. . .Jobs. . .and more Jobs - MTA is Hiring
https://jobs.mdot.state.md.us/JobListings.aspx
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Demolitian Celebration - Walmart Supercenter Site
Aug.30,2011 - The walls came down today, which officially started the construction phase of this long anticipated project that will create JOBS and spur Economic Development for Randallstown. The following is information and updates on current and past projects in and around the Randallstown and Liberty Road Corridor.
- Kamenetz and Randallstown community leaders celebrate demolition of vacant buildings at Walmart Supercenter site National retailer bringing 350 new jobs to Randallstown
- Liberty Road Commercial Corridor More than $180 million in new investment
- Major infrastructure investments
- Streetscape and improved pedestrian safety and access along Liberty Road
New intersection at Liberty Road and I-695
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Owings Mills Metro Centre
On July 28, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz announced the start of construction for the centerpiece building at Owings Mills Metro Centre, a transit oriented town center. The six-story building will house the largest public library branch in Baltimore County and a center for the Community College of Baltimore County, Maryland's largest community college. The 120,000 square foot building is estimated to cost $30 million including building construction, furnishings, and opening day book collection for the library. Construction is scheduled to be complete in winter 2013, see picture here: http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/News/releases/0728metro.html
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Restaurant Week - Baltimore County
Mark your calendar - Baltimore County Restaurant Week is August 12 through 26. Over 30 restaurants around the County will feature special menus at fixed prices. One to three course lunch and dinners will range from $10.11 to $35.11. From fine dining to family dining, Baltimore County Restaurant Week offers something for every taste and budget. Visit www.BaltimoreCountyRestaurantWeek.com to view participating restaurants' web sites and menus.
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Medicare Prescription Drug Assistance
The Medicare agency is renewing its outreach efforts to low-income seniors who might not know that they qualify for financial help with their prescription drugs. The agency estimates that about two million seniors are eligible for the Medicare Low-Income Subsidy Program but aren't signed up. The program enables eligible seniors to pay no more than $2.50 for generic drugs and $6.30 for each brand-name drug.
To qualify, beneficiaries' incomes must be less than $16,335 a year ($22,065 for married couples) and have resources limited to $12,640 ($25,260 for couples). These include bank accounts, stocks and bonds - but not beneficiaries' homes or cars.
The Social Security Administration changed the rules for determining eligibility last year, making it easier to qualify. The agency does not count life insurance policies as a resource for eligibility purposes, for example, while help received from family and friends to pay for household expenses like food, mortgages, rent and utilities does not count as income. Seniors can find out if they qualify - and sign up if they do at -http://www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp/.
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SHOP MARYLAND WEEK Tax Free
Marylanders get a break on clothing and footwear items priced $100 or less when they are exempt from the 6 percent state sales tax: Sunday, August 14 - Saturday, August 20 for more information go to http://www.marylandtaxes.com/ShopMD_2011/default.asp .
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Medicaid Budget: Public Input on FY 2012 $40 Million Budget Savings Target
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), in collaboration with the Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee (MMAC), is seeking public input on strategies to save $40 million from the Medicaid budget during this fiscal year (2012). The MMAC is a group of providers, consumers, advocates, and legislators who advise DHMH on Medicaid policies and programmatic content. The Medicaid budget includes a savings target of $40 million; however, there is no specific guidance on how to save the $40 million and DHMH must determine how to reach this savings target. We are seeking ideas from the public to help guide us.
We understand that these will not be easy cuts. These savings need to be achieved in FY 2012 – that is, by June 30, 2012. The longer we wait, the more severe the cuts will need to be to achieve our target and balance our budget. Please note that States are barred from reducing eligibility levels under Federal law, therefore ideas that suggest reductions in eligibility will not be considered.
We encourage all ideas and suggestions. Public input is necessary and important to ensure that comprehensive and transparent decisions are made. Therefore, DHMH is seeking your specific recommendations regarding the strategies that the Medicaid Program can implement to meet its budget.
Recommendations may be submitted by e-mail to medicaidcostcontainment@dhmh.state.md.us or presented at the following public hearings:
July 28, 2011
3:00pm - 5:00pm
DHMH
Conference Room L3
201 West Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
August 2, 2011
4:30pm - 6:30pm
Miller Senate Office Building
Senate Finance Committee Room
11 Bladen Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
July 28, 2011
Recommendations will be accepted until August 10, 2011.
Toll Free 1-877-4MD-DHMH - TTY/Maryland Relay Service 1-800-735-2258
Web Site: www.dhmh.state.md.us
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Mortgage Assistance Programs -
Emergency Homeowners Loan Program (EHLP)
This is a nationwide program with a short application date. All application information can be found at www.findEHLP.org. Click on the 'Maryland' tab near the end of the page. Please share this information with your family, friends, congregations and colleagues. Application deadline is July 22 - fast approaching!
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