Follow are 5 Questions from Mr. Arthur Carson of Lusby and associated responses:
1. Question: Do you support the continued program of limiting both commercial and residential growth?
Response: The Comprehensive Plan is the official policy document for the County. This document is created with much input from the citizens, and then approved by the Board of County Commissioners. This document is the primary source of direction for commercial and residential "growth." As guided by this plan, Calvert County has about 31,000 residences with an estimate of achieving “Build-out” of 37,000 residences being between 2020 and 2030.
The “rate” of growth is affected by various tools; two such are the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (AFPO) which is used to ensure sufficient county resources exists (such as enough seats in school) before proceeding with new home developments; and Transferrable Development Rights (TDR) that allows for instance a farm to sell development lots to others for development of properties at another location. Commercial development, as described in the Calvert County Comprehensive Plan and various Town Center Master Plans, are focused in the various town centers. I support this approach to commercial and residential development as do a majority by the citizens of Calvert County.
2. Question: What are your thoughts about both the department of Economic Development and Planning and Zoning?
Response: Presuming your question refers to the role of these departments as it relates to residential and commercial development. The original purpose of the Department of Economic Development was to help employers expand or come to Calvert County, i.e., to create jobs. This is a good purpose; even more important given the current economic climate. Additionally, they often assist the County in receiving Federal and State grants. I fully support the concept of Economic Development. However, like all governmental organizations, we must examine how well are they performing by instilling a greater use of metrics, and basically seek ways for improvement.
As mentioned elsewhere on this Blog site, County staff members from Planning and Zoning, Economic Development, and Finance & Budget need to orchestrate a series of workshops with some small business owners and citizens who desire opening businesses. This workshop should produce a clearly identifiable and easy to understand flowchart which identifies the steps needed for start-up. Currently, the need for an individual to shuffle from one office to another to learn what is needed only to find the need to go back and forth is unacceptable.
We need to ensure a level playing field for these businesses. All too often, a sense of frustration arises by a lack of transparency. Transparency is improved by having robust Ethics and Integrity Policies. Reforms that include routine training and awareness for county employees are absolutely essential and overdue. This is very important to me and Ethics are high on my list. Thus, I would want to make sure the county employees perform free from undue political influence.
3. Question: How will you maintain services and still reduce taxes?
Response: During the early 1990s, the “piggy back” income tax for Calvert County increased from 20% of the State Income Tax bill to 50%. Surely, the County Government can go on a spending diet to allow for some reduction of the County “piggy back” income tax.
Among the activities needed is to encourage a re-evaluation of those services truly needed to be perform by government versus those currently being performed by government that would be better implemented by private entities. By reducing the governmental role and encouraging an improved business climate, the citizens could see their taxes reduced while still having needs satisfied.
4. Question: What are your thoughts about the Patuxent Business Park?
Response: In short, the Patuxent Business Park (PBP) is a noble intention that failed miserably. Yet to receive its first occupant, one of the items of concern is the lack of high-speed data networks. I support giving incentives to have Wireless Broadband Networks throughout Calvert County. Such a capability would not only help secure new businesses at the PBP, but would help satisfy the needs of many residents who live in rural areas (and not so rural), and currently lack even access to the cable television.
5. Question: It appears ethics have been abused in county government employees but the commissioners have not acted because of merit employee status. How would you correct this?
Response: While I served on the Ethics Commission, it became apparent the code needed revision and its actual implementation made a higher priority. Having participated with other southern Maryland counties (St. Marys, Charles, Anne Arundel) and the state ethics commission, I was among those on the Calvert County Ethics Commission who began redrafting the code. Citizens should be aware that the revised code is likely to be presented to the Board of County Commissioners during this election season. I would participate in the dialogue to ensure the revised code receives its due attention.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tales from the Trail
INTRODUCTION
Visiting citizens at their homes is helpful for a grass-roots candidate. I am learning much. For instance, anti-incumbency sentiment throughout the nation, most evident in recent primary and special elections is not limited to just outside of Maryland. This sentiment prevails throughout Maryland and includes voters in Calvert County.
From March 2009, when I first participated at a Tea Party Rally in Solomons, the beginning of my door-to-door meetings in July 2009, to this day, I’m hearing a level of anger that is simmering and is likely to exert itself in this year’s election.
A one-word description for Calvert County is the word unique. Nowhere else can residents live so near to Washington D.C., and yet have a blend of suburban, water and farm living. The recent Triple A bond rating, no doubt evidence of a conservatively-based financial decision process is clearly a positive.
Underlying the positive, however, are some areas needing improvement. Voters sense those in power all too often eventually become deaf to citizen concerns while becoming captured by the so called “Trappings of Power.”
Citizens throughout the nation are particularly angry largely from perceived arrogance of elected officials. With this as a back-drop, I find it fitting to “speak the truth to power.”
SPENDING
Continued spending, actually increased spending because of increasing growth in government is one of the primary concerns expressed by those in the “Taxed Enough Already” movement, at the self-described Tea Party rallies. At the local level, Calvert County Government celebrates opening a $20 Million community pool while citizens see homes going into foreclosure because of the depressed economy.
Recently, the county government spent over $4 Million to purchase and run a golf course instead of assuring a positive business climate that would foster private small businesses to thrive. Although the county government now manages this golf course, it has yet to adopt a “good neighbor” policy which would include constructing appropriate netting to protect several homes already damaged from errant golf balls.
TRANSPORTATION
Road construction and maintenance, an appropriate role of government continues, but with some questionable expenses such as the nearly million dollars of tax-payer money, spent for a traffic circle at the southern tip of Solomons Island.
Though the county staff did an excellent effort clearing roads during the recent winter snow storms, not every neighborhood received the same level of responsiveness. Communities within Huntingtown in particular needed to make specific calls to the county commissioners before snow removal crews arrived.
Most sadly, the county government is not holding the State Highway Administration accountable to “do the right thing” and correct several dangerous cross-over intersections along the major highway artery that runs along the spine of Calvert County. Closing dangerous cross-overs is only a portion of improvements needed. Improved traffic flow and improved safety must become mutual goals.
LIBERTY
For over a hundred years, since the time of Woodrow Wilson, political progressives of several political parties also self-identified liberals, socialists and communists, and even some elements of the environmentalists; guided policies, implemented changes, and drastically altered the course of our nation.
Their direction fundamentally changed our country from one being “Under God” towards one that is heading to be “Under Enslavement”. Greater growth of government at all levels national, state, and local permeates the lives of us all changing each from individuals with equal rights to a collective of dependants vying for scraps from the Government. In short, the stronger the Government, the weaker are families, churches, and charities.
Locally, initiatives such as End Hunger in Calvert County can all too easily become politicized during an election year. While noble efforts of families, churches, and charities, its very nature could be adversely thwarted if expectations arise for the county government to participate under the belief of a compassionate government.
BUSINESS CLIMATE
Small business owners, or owners to be, experience a hostile business climate in Maryland. That sentiment is also felt here in Calvert County. At a minimum, the following needs to occur.
1. County staff members from planning and zoning, economic development, and finance & budget need to orchestrate a series of workshops with some small business owners and citizens who desire opening businesses. This workshop should produce a clearly identifiable and easy to understand flowchart which identifies the steps needed for start-up. Currently, the need for an individual to shuffle from one office to another to learn what is needed only to find the need to go back and forth is unacceptable.
2. A second step is to ensure a level playing field for these businesses. All too often, a sense of frustration arises by a lack of transparency. Transparency is improved by having robust Ethics and Integrity Policies. Reforms that include routine training and awareness for county employees are absolutely essential and overdue.
BUILD-OUT
Build-out is a term commonly used to describe Calvert County achieving 37,000 residences. Currently, the county has about 31,000 residences with build-out estimates to occur between the years of 2020 and 2030.
Currently, long term planning appears to be focused towards “what we’re having for lunch today”. On a yearly basis, the Board of County Commissioners settles upon a budget with some funding projections identified in the out years.
The Calvert County Comprehensive Master Plan and its corresponding set of Town Center Master Plans are used to guide the day-to-day zoning requirements. These Master Plans are visionary documents like an artist’s rendition. The associated zoning reflects the intended implementation. However, a very important aspect is not yet included. That aspect consists of a set of blueprints that can be used to guide the yearly budgeting process.
For example, one can document the number of schools, teachers and Sheriff Deputies that currently support the 31,000 residences, but how many will be needed at build-out? Once an assessment is made for build-out, then a more predictable growth chart (a set of blueprints) can be produced to guide the yearly budgeting process and thereby making a more predictive and informed decisions for the out years.
FARMING & WATERWAY
Besides suburban development, Calvert County remains viable for developing agriculture and for waterway uses. Previous efforts, for example, to save the farming community often with good intentions had some unintended consequences.
Members of the farming community are not asking for much. Some simply ask for drivers to understand that large farm equipment needs to occasionally use roads to go from one farm to another. Asking for driver patience and understanding is not only reasonable, being patient and understanding is the right thing to do.
Farms suffer from forces of nature that makes growing and harvesting crops a challenge. Worsening this challenge are unintended impacts imposed by zoning requirements that need to be readdressed.
For example, to provide supplemental income, one farming couple began using their barn to rebuild automobiles. The automotive activity did not change the footprint, nor the production of the farming activity. County authorities forced the shutdown of the automobile activity resulting in the owners suffering loss of income and heading towards foreclosure. A basic responsibility of ensuring the “pursuit of happiness” was not met by the County Government. Clearly, improvements are needed.
The Calvert Marine Museum provides wonderful opportunities to learn about the waterway. It also provides an assist to our tourist industry.
The recent Intergenerational Earth Day celebration at Asbury-Solomons provided a reminder of the importance of good stewardship of our water ways.
The Southern Maryland Oyster Cultivation Society, a volunteer organization is also building public awareness of the need for oyster restoration to improve local water quality.
LAND USE
I support improved community input for land use decisions. Currently, funds are identified for fiscal year 2012 to perform a feasibility study of public water and sewer in St. Leonard, a Minor Town Center.
During the ongoing redraft of the St. Leonard Town Center Master Plan, it became apparent many citizens in the St. Leonard area desire more information about the master plan and implications of its associated zoning requirements. They have some valid concerns.
As a County Commissioner, I will move to zero-out the current sewer feasibility study and would only support re-instating it after a properly conducted survey that included all residents within the St. Leonard zip code.
TAXES
It may be an old saying that only death and taxes are a certainty, but elected officials should work hard to reduce taxes, not look to grow the government. A prime means to reduce taxes is to first reduce wasteful spending.
Any function being done by the Government that is not absolutely necessary and could be done by the private sector is wasteful. An improvement needed is to re-look at the priorities of the budgeted functions and then fund only those that are really necessary.
During the early 1990s, the “piggy back” income tax for Calvert County increased from 20% of the State Income Tax bill to 50%. Surely, the County Government can go on a spending diet to allow for some reduction of the County “piggy back” income tax.
I believe that just as the youth pay no taxes until they become productive, seniors on a fixed income have earned the right to pay a "reduced tax rate", and the elderly who become more dependent upon others should no longer pay taxes. Such reductions are a “respect” for our elders; one that needs to return to our culture, and is long overdue.
EDUCATION
By any measure, Calvert County schools rank 1st, 2nd, or 3rd along with Howard and Montgomery County schools. The State of Maryland schools often ranks among the highest within America. However, instead of “patting ourselves on our back”, we should remember that as a nation, our students are falling behind several other countries.
Objective studies demonstrate little relationship between dollars spent, class size, and quality of the student’s education. More importantly, studies show that a student’s success is directly related to their parents. Therefore, greater involvement between teachers and parents should be encouraged.
Parents have the primary responsibility for teaching and educating their children, both by example and through involvement. The role of teachers is to support the parents’ education of the students.
Parents also have a responsibility to support the teachers, not just through payment of taxes, but also supportive of the teacher’s need to instill discipline with discipline meaning repetitive training, examples, and setting expectations.
Parents have every reason to expect that education of students entails study of original source material to include the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and the Federalist Papers.
For several years, the county used a formula to project salary increases for our educators. During the recent economic meltdown, it became apparent one or some factors were missing from this formula. As a result, an intended pay raise of 4.5% needed to be reduced to 0.5%.
While the unforeseen economic condition was not predictable and the Board of Education and teachers are in negotiations, the same flawed formula remains in use.
Without making corrections to this funding formula, we can all expect a similar, if not identical, snag will occur again. I support improving the educational funding formula.
CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
Experience shows that an engaged citizen population provides for better government and improved communities. Concerned citizens need to become more involved with existing, or help create new concerned citizen organizations.
Citizen organizations play an important role in keeping fellow citizens informed about government activities. They also provide a non-government structure that can make improvements from activities such as organizing litter pick-up in rural areas, to addressing zoning concerns, providing extra sets of eyes that support local law enforcement; and instilling good citizenship examples for educating youth.
Current community organizations exist in Dunkirk, Owings, St. Leonard, and Solomons. A previous one in Huntingtown could be revived and new ones encouraged for Lusby, Prince Frederick, Port Republic, and the Beach areas.
CONCLUSION
Having visited thousands of homes throughout Calvert County as I progress with this grass-roots campaign, I hear and I listen. Voters say they love Calvert County. They know what they want and what they don’t want. They want to be left alone in their pursuit of happiness. They desire Freedom over Enslavement, liberty over tyranny, and a Calvert County that remains unique. Voters say there are needs for improvements. The voters are saying they want to see some new faces, ideas, and personalities on the Board of County Commissioners.
Anti-incumbency sentiment could present a very real challenge to those who are running for re-election. As a Candidate running for office for the first time, I believe rather than portraying a political response to this sentiment, I would simply say, I hear and understand the views of the voters. I appreciate the nuance of making improvements without drastic change in direction. As a candidate, I’ve worked diligently to be a creditable candidate in whom the voters may put their trust into doing the right thing.
Visiting citizens at their homes is helpful for a grass-roots candidate. I am learning much. For instance, anti-incumbency sentiment throughout the nation, most evident in recent primary and special elections is not limited to just outside of Maryland. This sentiment prevails throughout Maryland and includes voters in Calvert County.
From March 2009, when I first participated at a Tea Party Rally in Solomons, the beginning of my door-to-door meetings in July 2009, to this day, I’m hearing a level of anger that is simmering and is likely to exert itself in this year’s election.
A one-word description for Calvert County is the word unique. Nowhere else can residents live so near to Washington D.C., and yet have a blend of suburban, water and farm living. The recent Triple A bond rating, no doubt evidence of a conservatively-based financial decision process is clearly a positive.
Underlying the positive, however, are some areas needing improvement. Voters sense those in power all too often eventually become deaf to citizen concerns while becoming captured by the so called “Trappings of Power.”
Citizens throughout the nation are particularly angry largely from perceived arrogance of elected officials. With this as a back-drop, I find it fitting to “speak the truth to power.”
SPENDING
Continued spending, actually increased spending because of increasing growth in government is one of the primary concerns expressed by those in the “Taxed Enough Already” movement, at the self-described Tea Party rallies. At the local level, Calvert County Government celebrates opening a $20 Million community pool while citizens see homes going into foreclosure because of the depressed economy.
Recently, the county government spent over $4 Million to purchase and run a golf course instead of assuring a positive business climate that would foster private small businesses to thrive. Although the county government now manages this golf course, it has yet to adopt a “good neighbor” policy which would include constructing appropriate netting to protect several homes already damaged from errant golf balls.
TRANSPORTATION
Road construction and maintenance, an appropriate role of government continues, but with some questionable expenses such as the nearly million dollars of tax-payer money, spent for a traffic circle at the southern tip of Solomons Island.
Though the county staff did an excellent effort clearing roads during the recent winter snow storms, not every neighborhood received the same level of responsiveness. Communities within Huntingtown in particular needed to make specific calls to the county commissioners before snow removal crews arrived.
Most sadly, the county government is not holding the State Highway Administration accountable to “do the right thing” and correct several dangerous cross-over intersections along the major highway artery that runs along the spine of Calvert County. Closing dangerous cross-overs is only a portion of improvements needed. Improved traffic flow and improved safety must become mutual goals.
LIBERTY
For over a hundred years, since the time of Woodrow Wilson, political progressives of several political parties also self-identified liberals, socialists and communists, and even some elements of the environmentalists; guided policies, implemented changes, and drastically altered the course of our nation.
Their direction fundamentally changed our country from one being “Under God” towards one that is heading to be “Under Enslavement”. Greater growth of government at all levels national, state, and local permeates the lives of us all changing each from individuals with equal rights to a collective of dependants vying for scraps from the Government. In short, the stronger the Government, the weaker are families, churches, and charities.
Locally, initiatives such as End Hunger in Calvert County can all too easily become politicized during an election year. While noble efforts of families, churches, and charities, its very nature could be adversely thwarted if expectations arise for the county government to participate under the belief of a compassionate government.
BUSINESS CLIMATE
Small business owners, or owners to be, experience a hostile business climate in Maryland. That sentiment is also felt here in Calvert County. At a minimum, the following needs to occur.
1. County staff members from planning and zoning, economic development, and finance & budget need to orchestrate a series of workshops with some small business owners and citizens who desire opening businesses. This workshop should produce a clearly identifiable and easy to understand flowchart which identifies the steps needed for start-up. Currently, the need for an individual to shuffle from one office to another to learn what is needed only to find the need to go back and forth is unacceptable.
2. A second step is to ensure a level playing field for these businesses. All too often, a sense of frustration arises by a lack of transparency. Transparency is improved by having robust Ethics and Integrity Policies. Reforms that include routine training and awareness for county employees are absolutely essential and overdue.
BUILD-OUT
Build-out is a term commonly used to describe Calvert County achieving 37,000 residences. Currently, the county has about 31,000 residences with build-out estimates to occur between the years of 2020 and 2030.
Currently, long term planning appears to be focused towards “what we’re having for lunch today”. On a yearly basis, the Board of County Commissioners settles upon a budget with some funding projections identified in the out years.
The Calvert County Comprehensive Master Plan and its corresponding set of Town Center Master Plans are used to guide the day-to-day zoning requirements. These Master Plans are visionary documents like an artist’s rendition. The associated zoning reflects the intended implementation. However, a very important aspect is not yet included. That aspect consists of a set of blueprints that can be used to guide the yearly budgeting process.
For example, one can document the number of schools, teachers and Sheriff Deputies that currently support the 31,000 residences, but how many will be needed at build-out? Once an assessment is made for build-out, then a more predictable growth chart (a set of blueprints) can be produced to guide the yearly budgeting process and thereby making a more predictive and informed decisions for the out years.
FARMING & WATERWAY
Besides suburban development, Calvert County remains viable for developing agriculture and for waterway uses. Previous efforts, for example, to save the farming community often with good intentions had some unintended consequences.
Members of the farming community are not asking for much. Some simply ask for drivers to understand that large farm equipment needs to occasionally use roads to go from one farm to another. Asking for driver patience and understanding is not only reasonable, being patient and understanding is the right thing to do.
Farms suffer from forces of nature that makes growing and harvesting crops a challenge. Worsening this challenge are unintended impacts imposed by zoning requirements that need to be readdressed.
For example, to provide supplemental income, one farming couple began using their barn to rebuild automobiles. The automotive activity did not change the footprint, nor the production of the farming activity. County authorities forced the shutdown of the automobile activity resulting in the owners suffering loss of income and heading towards foreclosure. A basic responsibility of ensuring the “pursuit of happiness” was not met by the County Government. Clearly, improvements are needed.
The Calvert Marine Museum provides wonderful opportunities to learn about the waterway. It also provides an assist to our tourist industry.
The recent Intergenerational Earth Day celebration at Asbury-Solomons provided a reminder of the importance of good stewardship of our water ways.
The Southern Maryland Oyster Cultivation Society, a volunteer organization is also building public awareness of the need for oyster restoration to improve local water quality.
LAND USE
I support improved community input for land use decisions. Currently, funds are identified for fiscal year 2012 to perform a feasibility study of public water and sewer in St. Leonard, a Minor Town Center.
During the ongoing redraft of the St. Leonard Town Center Master Plan, it became apparent many citizens in the St. Leonard area desire more information about the master plan and implications of its associated zoning requirements. They have some valid concerns.
As a County Commissioner, I will move to zero-out the current sewer feasibility study and would only support re-instating it after a properly conducted survey that included all residents within the St. Leonard zip code.
TAXES
It may be an old saying that only death and taxes are a certainty, but elected officials should work hard to reduce taxes, not look to grow the government. A prime means to reduce taxes is to first reduce wasteful spending.
Any function being done by the Government that is not absolutely necessary and could be done by the private sector is wasteful. An improvement needed is to re-look at the priorities of the budgeted functions and then fund only those that are really necessary.
During the early 1990s, the “piggy back” income tax for Calvert County increased from 20% of the State Income Tax bill to 50%. Surely, the County Government can go on a spending diet to allow for some reduction of the County “piggy back” income tax.
I believe that just as the youth pay no taxes until they become productive, seniors on a fixed income have earned the right to pay a "reduced tax rate", and the elderly who become more dependent upon others should no longer pay taxes. Such reductions are a “respect” for our elders; one that needs to return to our culture, and is long overdue.
EDUCATION
By any measure, Calvert County schools rank 1st, 2nd, or 3rd along with Howard and Montgomery County schools. The State of Maryland schools often ranks among the highest within America. However, instead of “patting ourselves on our back”, we should remember that as a nation, our students are falling behind several other countries.
Objective studies demonstrate little relationship between dollars spent, class size, and quality of the student’s education. More importantly, studies show that a student’s success is directly related to their parents. Therefore, greater involvement between teachers and parents should be encouraged.
Parents have the primary responsibility for teaching and educating their children, both by example and through involvement. The role of teachers is to support the parents’ education of the students.
Parents also have a responsibility to support the teachers, not just through payment of taxes, but also supportive of the teacher’s need to instill discipline with discipline meaning repetitive training, examples, and setting expectations.
Parents have every reason to expect that education of students entails study of original source material to include the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and the Federalist Papers.
For several years, the county used a formula to project salary increases for our educators. During the recent economic meltdown, it became apparent one or some factors were missing from this formula. As a result, an intended pay raise of 4.5% needed to be reduced to 0.5%.
While the unforeseen economic condition was not predictable and the Board of Education and teachers are in negotiations, the same flawed formula remains in use.
Without making corrections to this funding formula, we can all expect a similar, if not identical, snag will occur again. I support improving the educational funding formula.
CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
Experience shows that an engaged citizen population provides for better government and improved communities. Concerned citizens need to become more involved with existing, or help create new concerned citizen organizations.
Citizen organizations play an important role in keeping fellow citizens informed about government activities. They also provide a non-government structure that can make improvements from activities such as organizing litter pick-up in rural areas, to addressing zoning concerns, providing extra sets of eyes that support local law enforcement; and instilling good citizenship examples for educating youth.
Current community organizations exist in Dunkirk, Owings, St. Leonard, and Solomons. A previous one in Huntingtown could be revived and new ones encouraged for Lusby, Prince Frederick, Port Republic, and the Beach areas.
CONCLUSION
Having visited thousands of homes throughout Calvert County as I progress with this grass-roots campaign, I hear and I listen. Voters say they love Calvert County. They know what they want and what they don’t want. They want to be left alone in their pursuit of happiness. They desire Freedom over Enslavement, liberty over tyranny, and a Calvert County that remains unique. Voters say there are needs for improvements. The voters are saying they want to see some new faces, ideas, and personalities on the Board of County Commissioners.
Anti-incumbency sentiment could present a very real challenge to those who are running for re-election. As a Candidate running for office for the first time, I believe rather than portraying a political response to this sentiment, I would simply say, I hear and understand the views of the voters. I appreciate the nuance of making improvements without drastic change in direction. As a candidate, I’ve worked diligently to be a creditable candidate in whom the voters may put their trust into doing the right thing.
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