HVBF Monthly Meeting - Facilities, Security, Transportation Roundtable
Wednesday, January 3, 2007, 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Host:

The Graduate Center at Loyola College

Attending:

Pam Balcerak, Eastern Savings Bank
Linda Balins, Safeguard Maintenance
Dianne Batchellor, Bavar Properties
Brenda Becker, Broadmead
John Beever, Hunt Valley Business Forum
Gail Chrzan, CB Richard Ellis
Rich Compton, Broadmead, Inc.
Mark Demski, Baltimore County Dept of Homeland Security & , , Emergency Management
Christine Eichler, PDP Group, Inc.
Elaine Ford, Race for the Cure
Emery Hines, Baltimore County Dept. of Public Works
Marty Janka, McCormick & Company
Delegate Wade Kach, Maryland House of Delegates
Kelly Kosino, State Highway Administration
Pat LaForce, Race for the Cure
Michelle Levis, Office Valet
Earl Long, Baltimore Metropolitan Council
Capt. Marty Lurz, Baltimore County Police Dept.
Chris Smith, TriAlliance
Steve Spund, Greetings & Readings
Rick Webb, Atlantic Financial Federal Credit Union
Bob Williams, Maryland Dept. of Economic Development
Meagan Wilson, Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce
Jacqueline Youngcourt, Bavar Properties

Capt. Marty Lurz opened the roundtable with a public safety report. Unsecured windows and doors are making life easy for burglars. There is plenty of opportunity for them because of the lack of security in residences and businesses. This has become the biggest factor in criminal activity. Marty says…”Lock your windows and doors or expect uninvited company”. Criminals always take the easiest opportunities.

Mark Demski reported on the coming seminar on “In Case of Emergency…A Business Continuity Seminar. The first will be held on Wednesday, January 24 at 8:00 am at CCBC, Hunt Valley. Flyers have been mailed and emailed to enable you to register for this free seminar on a subject you can’t afford to miss.

Kelly Kosino gave the road report from SHA. Work will begin in February on Freeland Road. Visit www.marylandroads.com for the latest on road repairs and closures.

Delegate Wade Kach, our delegate to the General Assembly from District 5B, shared with us his reflections on matters that may come before the opening of the session on January 10.

  1. Wade has a priority to secure high speed internet for all of northern Baltimore County. Rural broadband is necessary if we are to participate in the communications growth necessary to compete in the global economy.

  2. Energy legislation must be initiated to permit the construction of new power generating facilities to permit more competition in the marketplace and address the lack of present infrastructure to accommodate growth.

  3. The coming deficit as a result of implementation of the Thornton Commission Report must be addressed at this session. The lack of funding of the initiative will catch up with us this year and require sound solutions.

  4. Wade commented that lottery revenues are suffering because of gaming opportunities in neighboring states with no similar resources in Maryland. In order to increase revenues, be on the look out for introduction of sales taxes for services. There also may be an attempt to increase income taxes on moderate to wealthy taxpayers. Maryland does not have the reputation of being a business friendly state and any increase in taxes will only strengthen that perception.

  5. 800,000 Marylanders have no health insurance. The cost of mandated benefits has increased the cost of health insurance to the point that young people who could favorably impact the cost of insurance are discouraged from joining a group. There must be more favorably priced insurance packages that can be offered by employers that would attract this younger market. We could see a tax on the wealthy who choose not to buy health insurance because of their ability to self-insure.

  6. Maryland is one of only five states with no voting paper trail. There will be legislation to correct this.

Earl Young of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council announced that every Wednesday during the General Assembly there is a legislative summary on their website at www.baltometro.org .

For more information on the Maryland General Assembly visit http://mlis.state.md.us/ .

To contact Wade go to: a_wade_kach@house.state.md.us .