The HCCA Board would like to thank all of the Howard County residents and government officials who came out to our annual meeting last night.  We would like to express a warm welcome to our new members, appreciation to our renewing members, and a special thanks to County Exec. Allan Kittleman, for coming out to meet with and respond to questions from citizens. We would also like to thank County Council members Calvin Ball, Mary Kay Sigaty and Jen Terrasa for coming out to listen to and speak with HCCA members and friends.

Question topics and citizen concerns covered a broad range including:

• Curbing infill development
• Ensuring we have affordable housing downtown
• Body cameras and dash cameras for Howard County policemen
• Savage residents concerns re: potential odor problems with the proposed bio-solids expansion at the sewage treatment facility
• Noise concerns regarding Merriweather Post Pavilion
• Installing an air quality monitoring station in Howard County
• New processes for pre-review of concept plans by the Planning Board
• APFO concerns re: the efficiency apartments being built on Guilford Rd.
• Status of personnel changes at DPZ with Marsha McLaughlin’s retirement
• Improving the overall process & decision making at the Planning Board
• Preventing industrial mulching on agricultural preservation properties
• Pedestrian safety
• Citizens being unfairly singled out for complaints by DPZ (e.g. Highland Farm & Rob Long’s property)
• Residents inability to get access to plans around the planned expansion of the compressor station & their concerns re: benzene, CO2 & particulate matter emissions
• Improving walkability & decreasing pedestrian access to cross illegally on busy parkways
• Concern about rain tax staying in place
• Status of APFO task force

In addition to responding to the above citizen concerns, Kittleman reinforced his commitment to restoring citizen trust in government through improving transparency & open government.

The 2015 HCCA Annual Meeting opened with a presentation from President, Stu Kohn of the new HCCA Board for 2015/16, a summary of HCCA accomplishments, and presentations from HCCA board members.

Brian England reviewed the status of HCCA’s New Town Columbia project, Lisa Markovitz reviewed the HCCA coalition with The People’s Voice, and Paul Verchinsky reviewed the status of HCCA’s work regarding Aging in Place. Additionally, HCCA announced our strong support of Susan Garber’s  approval as the County Executive nominee for the Planning Board.

Access to HCCA President, Stu Kohn’s presentation can be found here.
The HCCA Treasurer’s report can be found here.

Again, thanks to all for your support & attendance.