Towson Times Article on County Public Nuisance Bill

From the Towson Times:


Baltimore County Council bill: Landlords need to control unruly tenants
Towson University's Tigerfest sparked proposal from Gardina

By Bryan P. Searsbsears@patuxent.com
Posted 7/21/10

Incidents of disorderly conduct around Towson has prompted one County Council member to propose tougher laws relating to "public nuisance."
Some community leaders say measures proposed by 5th District County Council member Vince Gardina are a good start in addressing conduct issues, but don't go far enough because they would only impact properties listed under the county's rental registration law -- and wouldn't include apartment complexes.

Gardina said he decided to propose tougher public nuisance laws after hearing about drunken students wandering through neighborhoods near Towson University during its annual Tigerfest celebration on April 24.

"Landlords aren't watching their tenants like they're supposed to," he said.

Officials at Towson University did not return a call from a reporter this week seeking comment.

Current county nuisance laws are limited, mostly to issues such as domestic noise. Gardina's bill focuses specifically on problems arising from complaints about the occupants of rental housing.

Under a bill being proposed at the County Council, complaints of disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace -- as well as violations of animal control laws and drug or alcohol violations -- would all qualify as public nuisances.

The owner of a rental property would receive a written warning from the county after two such complaints regarding tenants in their properties.

If a third complaint occurs within six months of the warning, the county could seek to have the rental registration suspended or revoked, or reject an application for renewal of the license.

Gardina said he plans to also submit an amendment that would allow the county to suspend rental licenses for up to one year.

The bill is scheduled for a July 27 hearing, and tentatively receive a vote on Aug. 2.

Under the proposal, property owners would be able to protect their licenses if they show they took steps to correct nuisance issues, were not the owner of the property when it occurred, or didn't know the violations had occurred but took steps to fix the problem once they were notified by the county.

Trish Mayhugh, president of the Riderwood Hills Community Association, applauded the proposal as a starting point -- but said the bill could result in unruly students being funneled into area apartment complexes.

Riderwood Hills is home to several apartment complexes, including two housing a fair number of students who attend Towson University and other area colleges -- the Colony and the Kenilworth at Charles complexes.

The Kenilworth at Charles abuts a neighborhood of single family homes. Area neighbors have complained in the past of unruly students living in overcrowded apartments.

"When you live near an apartment complex, there's always someone holding a heavy metal vomit party in your backyard," Mayhugh said, adding that fireworks, intoxicated students and food thrown into yards have not been uncommon occurrences in her neighborhood.

Mayhugh said the owner of the complex has worked hard to keep up the property and work with the community when there have been problems with tenants.
Still, she said, she would like to see Gardina's bill amended to apply to apartment complexes -- and add limits to the number of people who can live in an apartment.

But Kathy Howard, an attorney for the Maryland Multi-housing Association, said an amendment specifically for apartments isn't needed because the county has mechanisms in place that oversee apartment operations.

She said, "enforcement mechanisms applicable to multifamily developments regarding myriad issues already exist and work well -- which is why the council did not include multifamily developments in the licensing law to begin with."

Baltimore County Police Officer to be Honored on Friday, July 23 in Towson

From Karl Pfrommer, Towson Area Citizens On Patrol:


Flipper, a police officer's officer. The Towson Chamber of Commerce and all of us are honoring him Friday night, July 23, at Feet On The Street, Allegheny Ave. in Towson.


Read Loni's attached article, which was published in the Towson Times this week. The photograph was taken when Flipper was honored by Towson Area Citizens on Patrol last month as one of Towson's finest police officers.


Flipper is great and we will greatly miss him.


Karl


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Below is the Towson Times article (click on the pages for an enlarged view):

BCPD - Significant Events Report - Week Ending 7/18/2010

From the Baltimore County Police, Precinct Six (Towson):

Click on the images below for an enlarged view.

Towson Farmers Market - Saturday, July 17

The Saturday Towson Farmers Market will be held July 17 from 8 am until 1 pm at the Allegheny Avenue Parking Lot between Grillo's and Kent Fisher Furs.

BCPD - Significant Events Report - Week ending 7/11/2010

From BCPD Precinct 6 (Towson) - Click on the pages for an enlarged view:

Support the Rodgers Forge COP during the National Night Out - Aug. 3!

From Mike Calwell, RFCOP:

The Towson Area Citizens on Patrol (TACOP) is hosting their annual 2010 "National Night Out" on August 3, 2010. Anyone is welcome to participate.

The motorcade will meet in the Babies R Us parking lot at Towson Marketplace at 6:30 PM. Our vehicles will be led by a Baltimore County Fire Department Engine.

Look for your Rodger Forge C.O.P. vehicles on Dumbarton soon after 6:30 PM.

Thanks for supporting your Rodgers Forge Citizen on Patrol.

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Here's the flyer for the event. Please click on the flyer for an enlarged view.

A Section of Washington Ave. in Towson will be Closed

A memo from Baltimore County:


For Immediate Release Contact: David Fidler
410 887-2171
Towson
Washington Avenue to Close July 19

(Towson, July 8, 2010) Baltimore County will close a section of Washington Avenue fronting Towson's Old Court House (between Chesapeake and Pennsylvania Avenues) on Monday, July 19 for streetscape construction.

During the work, crews will alternately close and open the north and south halves of the 400 block of Washington Avenue in order to keep Bankers Way accessible to businesses and customers. Traffic will be detoured to York Road, on the east, and Bosley Avenue to the west.
.
When completed in the early autumn, the Washington Avenue Streetscape Project will run from Allegheny Avenue to Towsontown Boulevard, and will include trees, planters and decorative brickwork

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A Bill Regarding Rental Housing & Public Nuisances

From Councilman Vince Gardina:

Dear Community Leaders,

In past years, I worked very hard to get the Rental Housing Registration Legislation enacted in Baltimore County. I believe that it has brought forth some positive changes, but many of you realize first hand that more needs to be done. Councilman Kevin Kamenetz and I have listened to the concerns and frustration you experienced when dealing with rental properties in your communities. After events like Towson University's Tigerfest, we were as frustrated as you that more could not be done to make these Landlords accountable for the sometimes egregious behavior of their tenants. I hope that you will be pleased to learn that Councilman Kamenetz and I have sponsored the attached legislation that would, indeed, make those landlords accountable for the behavior of their tenants. This legislation will allow for the rental license to be revoked if there are more then two animal control law violations, disorderly conduct violations, disturbance of the peace violations, disorderly house violations, dangerous substance abuse violations, health violations, alcohol violations, or public nuisance violations in a six month period (after notice has been made to the landlord of the initial two violations).

This Bill was introduced at last night's Legislative Session. It will be discussed at the July 27, 2010 Work Session at 2 p.m. Final Reading and Vote will occur at the Legislative Session on August 2, 2010 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

We ask for your support of this legislation. If any of you are able to testify in support of this bill at the July 27th Work Session, that would be ideal. The Work Session takes place in the Plum Room, adjacent to the County Council offices, on the 2nd floor of the Old Courthouse in Towson. Please feel free to contact my office at 410-887-3384 with any questions.

Sincerely,
Vince Gardina

CLICK ON THE PAGES BELOW FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW OF THE BILL.

BCPD - Significant Events Report - Week ending 7/4/2010

Click on any page below to see an enlarged view.

Happy Fourth of July!

The members of the Rodgers Forge Communtiy, Inc. board wish everyone a wonderful Fourth of July!

Area Fireworks Displays

From the Baltimore County website:

2010 Schedule of Fireworks Displays

This page lists dates and locations of fireworks displays for which the Baltimore County Fire Marshal has issued permits. Additional displays will be added as the permits are issued. Check this page regularly for a display near you.

The use of backyard fireworks is illegal; some ground-based and hand-held sparklers are legal in certain counties, including Baltimore County. Detailed information about the laws regulating fireworks is available online.

June 14, 2010
Oregon Ridge Park (no rain date)13401 Beaver Dam Road

June 26, 2010
College Manor, Inc. (no rain date)300 W. Seminary Avenue, Lutherville
Jacksonville Elementary School (rain date June 27)3400 Hillendale Road

July 1, 2010
Green Spring Valley Hunt Club (rain date July 5)30 Green Spring Valley Road

July 3, 2010
Baltimore Country Club (rain date July 4)11500 Mays Chapel Road
Catonsville High School (rain date July 4)421 Bloomsbury Avenue, Catonsville
Eastern Yacht Club (no rain date)918 Seneca Road, The Barge
Grange Elementary School (rain date July 5)2000 Church Road, Dundalk
Oregon Ridge Park (no rain date)13401 Beaver Dam Road
The Suburban Club (rain date July 5)7600 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, 21209
Woodholme Country Club (rain date July 5)300 Woodholme Avenue

July 4, 2010
Fullerton Park (rain date July 5)4208 Fullerton Avenue
Loch Raven Academy (rain date July 5)8101 LaSalle Road
Oregon Ridge Park (no rain date)13401 Beaver Dam Road

July 5, 2010
Hereford High School (rain date July 6)17220 York Road, Hereford

July 24, 2010
Oregon Ridge Park (no rain date)13401 Beaver Dam Road

August 2, 2010
Sparrows Point High School (rain date August 3)7400 North Point Road


Revised June 22, 2010