Politics & Government

Live Blog Recap: Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz in Catonsville

The county executive is speaking to the Catonsville Rotary Club.

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz spoke to members of the Catonsville Rotary Club on Tuesday night in Catonsville. Here's a recap of what he said.

(UPDATE 8 p.m.) Rotary Club President Cal Oren asks about crime and what is being done about quality of life crime issues.

Baltimore County's murder rate is still low, with less than 30 murders a year compared to more than 200 in Baltimore city.

Find out what's happening in Catonsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What the county has started focus on crime technology, which has allowed them to track where crime is happening better.

Overall though, the county executive is happy with the low crime rates the county has.

Find out what's happening in Catonsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Speeding and red light cameras, he said, are more of a community concern than a crime concern, he said, when Oren asked about those issues.

(UPDATE 7:54 p.m.) The topic now turns to liquor licenses in Baltimore County, with the study underway about how are issued.

In Baltimore County and in Baltimore city, the system is based on a population count that results in a glut of licenses on the east side of the county, he said.

Kamenetz said the 'glut' of licenses on the east side can be marketed and sold to anywhere in the county and can be bought by local businesses and restaurant owners in Catonsville.

He would also like to create a small restaurant license that can be leased from the county at $5,000 a year. That way, if a restaurant wanted to serve beer and wine, they could do so with this type of license.

"I think it helps the growth of restaurants like [Catonsville Gourmet] who are doing well," he said.

(UPDATE 7:45 p.m.) Steve Whalen is the first person to to ask a question, who asks about his level of satisfaction with the leadership of the school system and the Board of Education.

Kamenetz said it's the most frustrating thing that he has dealt with over the years that he has little oversight, despite having to give 50 cents of every county taxpayer dollar to the school system.

Hairston, he said, has been some "aloof of the political aspects of the job...it's not the way I would have done things if I was in his shoes."

Still, an elected school board without fiscal authority isn't worth it because they won't be accountable for the decisions. 

"They'll ask for the world," he said.

The right way to go, Kamenetz said, is to have the superintendent more accountable to the county executive.

"Looking at dollars and sense issues, we're in that business," he said, referring to the county's role of maintaining buildings and planning construction.

(UPDATE 7:35 p.m.) Despite all the doom and gloom, Kamenetz said he thinks these times are better for thinking about government in different ways.

"When things are tough now, it forces us to re-examine how can we do things, and how can we do it better," he said.

His priorities for the future is funding for school construction, police and fire protection, roads and infastructure while delivering basic services.

(UPDATE 7:30 p.m.) The 'doom and gloom' part of the talk has come, with talk about the next two fiscal years and reductions in funds from the state. 

Now, Baltimore County has to pay $4.5 million to the state of Maryland for services rendered through the state department of assessments and taxation.

"When you start making us pay for state agencies, then you're start losing the ability to manage that agency," he said. "It's a difficult thing."

Kamenetz would like to eventually have county residents be able to do "100 percent of their business online." From things as small to cat and dog applications to zoning permit requests, he hopes to put it all online.

(UPDATE 7:16 p.m.) The county executive is starting out with some fun facts of Baltimore County with its 805,000 residents. The county is larger than four states and has the second highest voter turnoute rate of any jurisdiction in Maryland.

He also mentioned the , which has not come through layoffs, that has lead to the lowest number of county employees in 25 years.

(UPDATE 7:05 p.m.) Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz was running a little bit late. Right now we're being treated to an impersonation of Bill Clinton, who is giving advice to the county executive.

Clinton's advice when dealing with the local media: "Ms. Miller that's a very good question, I'm glad you asked that question. Next question."

(Original story) Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz is speaking at the Catonsville Rotary Club in a community forum from 6-8 p.m. at the Rolling Road Golf Club. Patch will be providing updates throughout the evening.


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