Friday, April 26, 2013
Councilman Bill Henry said he is introducing the legislation at the behest of the Loch Raven Improvement Association.
A bill will be introduced on Monday that would raise the fine for posting illegal signs in Baltimore. Councilman Bill Henry, who represents the York Road corridor, said he was sponsoring the bill, which would increase the penalty for posting a sign illegally from $200 to $500, at the behest of the Loch Raven Improvement Association. "The Loch Raven Improvement Association is also particularly protective of the expanse of median in the middle of Loch Raven Boulevard where people put up more traditional yard signs," Henry said. He said the community feels that heavier fines may be a deterrent to businesses placing signs in prohibited places, such as streetlights and medians. Although he said many businesses place the signs without knowing …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The tax is almost identical to what was previously proposed by Councilman Bill Henry, who represents the York Road corridor.
A city council committee is set to give a hearing to a proposed billboard tax that could mean $1 million in revenue for Baltimore. At 10 a.m., Thursday at City Hall, the Baltimore City Council’s Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the tax. The idea of taxing billboards is not new, Councilman Bill Henry has proposed the tax twice before, but it’s the first time the expected revenue from the tax has been included in a proposed budget, indicating Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s support. In February, Henry said his proposal, which would have charged a tax of $5 per 10 square foot for outdoor advertising and larger than 10 feet and $15 per square foot for electronic advertising, was defeated …
Monday, March 4, 2013
A proposal to grant community groups legal standing raised the question of what groups are viable.
A City Council committee started a conversation on Thursday about how and if the city should recognize certain community groups and grant them increased powers. Councilman Bill Henry, chairman of the Housing and Community Development Committee, said the discussion was needed because of issues raised in legislation aimed at giving community groups standing to challenge city zoning decisions. Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke introduced a bill in December that would grant community associations the ability to appeal decisions made by the city’s zoning administrator. "I had conversations with people interested in [Clarke’s] bill, but had concerns about giving that power to anyone that chose to register themselves on the Planning Department’s […
Share your thoughts on proposals to make restaurants display graded sanitation scores.
Councilman Bill Henry is scheduled to introduce a resolution on Monday calling on the General Assembly to pass legislation that would require graded sanitation inspection reports be displayed in restaurants. But the idea is not a new one. Councilman Brandon Scott introduced legislation calling for the city to take similar measures in August. But that bill has been languishing in committee since Scott submitted the bill to the council. What do you think of making restaurants display graded health scores? Tell us in the comments section.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Councilman Bill Henry previously proposed a billboard tax twice before.
If the proposal in Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s 10-year-financial plan to tax billboards seems familiar it should be, a North Baltimore lawmaker has previously proposed doing just that twice before. Councilman Bill Henry, who represents the York Road corridor, previously proposed placing a tax on billboards in 2010 and 2012 but the proposal failed both times despite the city finance department's tacit approval of the legislation. "It was the lobbying of Clear Channel [who owns most city billboards] of council members that killed it," Henry said. Henry said that he proposed the tax again last year because it was included as an option in the 2012 version of the online budget game that allows residents to balance the city’s budget by …
Monday, February 11, 2013
Council members share concerns about employee benefits, trash collection fees and audits.
Some members of the Baltimore City Council, who represent North Baltimore, liked parts of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s State of the City Address, but had some concerns about the initiatives she proposed. Scroll through the photos to find out what council members had to say about the speech.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The City Council passed a resolution asking that the city maintain recreation spending.
The administration of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will withhold comment on a resolution asking for the state legislature to pass a bill requiring the city to maintain a level of funding for recreation after voters approved table gaming in the state. In November, voters approved table games in the state, with 50 percent of the funds coming to Baltimore earmarked for maintenance, operation and construction of recreational facilities. The City Council passed a resolution last week asking the city’s state legislators to add a provision to the bill requiring the city to maintain its spending level on recreation, in addition to the funds coming from gaming. "If we are going to be receiving dedicated state funds toward recreation, then these …
Friday, December 7, 2012
The City Council passed a resolution calling on its General Assembly delegation to create legislation changing state law to increase access to payment in lieu of taxes.
The City Council wants state lawmakers to change the law to allow smaller developments outside of designated urban renewal zones access to special tax incentives. Payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs, allows the city to reduce real estate taxes on a project for a period of time, and accept a negotiated payment instead, making development in the city more attractive. These incentives have been criticized as a handout to developers to encourage building in all ready thriving parts of the city, such as Harbor East. But on Thursday the council passed a resolution calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation allowing the city to grant the incentives to smaller neighborhood based projects. Currently, to qualify for a payment in lieu of taxes…
Friday, September 21, 2012
Rev. Heber Brown III says business interests and Councilman Bill Henry are trying to push the church from its current location.
(UPDATED) 3:10 p.m.—In an email to congregants of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church, Rev. Heber Brown III questions the future of his church in North Baltimore. In the email Brown (who recently started a blog on Patch) mentions redevelopment plans in the neighborhood, and links to an article about renovations at the Senator Theatre. He writes: "some are eyeing the property all around our church as potential parking for the expansion of the local businesses." Brown also accuses Councilman Bill Henry of "dropping suggestions" the church move from its current location at 450 E. Belvedere Ave. He quotes Henry as telling Pleasant Hope leaders during a meeting in August about the church’s concerns as saying "Oh, you want clout. In that case, clout …
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450 E Belvedere Ave, Baltimore, MD
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Monday, August 13, 2012
The City Council agenda also includes a bill to add the Shelley House to the landmark list.
The Baltimore City Council is scheduled to meet Monday evening for the first time since July 16, and will hold a final vote on whether to approve a charter amendment requiring audits of 13 city agencies every four years. If the council approves the amendment tonight, which it is expected to do, city residents will have the chance to vote on the amendment in the Nov. 6 general election. Originally the bill, which was supported by North Baltimore council members Carl Stokes, Bill Henry and Mary Pat Clarke, required an audit of 14 city agencies every two years, but despite their objections it was amended to lessen the frequency and agencies that were audited. Other items of note on the agenda:
Sean Tully
10:45 am on Sunday, April 28, 2013
I don't need government to manage illegal signs, at least not in my neighborhood. When a sign goes up it comes down soon after I see it. more ›