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Senator Glassman Introduces Legislation To Form Study Commission On Payroll Services Following Accupay Bankruptcy
March 27th, 2013 – As the 2013 Legislative Session moves closer to the end, the Maryland Senate prepares to debate the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013. This bill more commonly known as the "Gas Tax" will require motor fuel tax rates to be increased from 23.5 cents per gallon to 43.7 cents per gallon by July 2016. The bill is designed to take the revenue that is gained from the tax and replenish the Transportation Trust Fund for infrastructure projects across the state. The bill also includes an automatic CPI escalator which will allow taxes to go up without legislative approval. Continue reading
Senator Glassman Introduces Legislation To Form Study Commission On Payroll Services Following Accupay Bankruptcy
March 21st, 2013 – Senator Barry Glassman, Harford County, introduced a bill on the Senate Floor to create a commission which will study the regulation of payroll service companies in the State of Maryland. After fielding hundreds of small business call, Glassman found no real bonding or regulatory oversight by the State. AccuPay of Bel Air recently filed bankruptcy leaving hundreds of small businesses with delayed payroll and delinquent or missed tax payments to the State and Federal Government. The Senate suspended its rules and moved the Bill directly to the Senate Finance Committee. Continue reading
Senator Proposes Tax Credit For Devaluation Of Maryland Farmland
February 5th, 2013 – With Maryland's farmers reeling from two years of new regulatory burdens in Maryland, Northern Harford County Senator Barry Glassman, R-35, introduced Senate Bill 427 which would allow farmers a method to recoup lost value in their agricultural land. Continue reading
Senators Introduce Annual Alcoholic Beverages Legislation
January 15th, 2013 – The Harford County Senators, led by Senator Barry Glassman, introduced their annual Harford County Alcoholic Beverages update legislation today in the State Senate. The Delegation meets with the Harford County Liquor Control Board each summer to update and add licenses needed for new businesses. Continue reading
January 10, 2013: Watch Senator Glassman featured on Comcast Newsmakers
September 11, 2012: Watch Senator Glassman featured on Comcast Newsmakers
July 10, 2012: Watch Senator Glassman featured in this ABC News on the effects on farmrers from of the states regulations for nutrient management.
July 9, 2012 – Senator Glassman says the short notice for the State legislature's AELR review of new nutrient management regulations is typical of the legislature's disrespect for the State's agricultural community.Continue reading
May 31, 2012 - Audio: Listen to Senator Barry Glassman Special Session Floor Debate against tax increases
May 1, 2012 - Watch WUSA9 in D.C. story on farm breweries in MD featuring Senator Barry Glassman.
March 13, 2012 - Watch Senator Barry Glassman on Comcast Newsmakers
Governor's Budget Impact Will Delay Recession Recovery In Maryland And It's Counties
February 1, 2012 – Marylanders who thought they were seeing the light at the end of the nation's recessionary tunnel now find themselves faced with the prospect of even less disposable family income.Continue reading
Maryland Senator Looking For Other Bay Area States To Do Better Before Adding New TMDL Standards To Maryland Agriculture
January 27, 2012 – Maryland State Senator Barry Glassman, (R) 35 Northern Harford County said he is tired of Maryland's farmers having to carry the load to help clear-up Maryland's Chesapeake Bay.Continue reading
Harford Senator And Western Maryland Delegate Proposing Farm Brewery License To Help Maryland Farmers Enter Craft Beer Market
January 24, 2012 – Senator Barry Glassman, (R) 35, North Harford County, is offering his support for a new class of brewing license which would potentially aid all Maryland farmers looking to create their own small craft brewery.Continue reading
Senator Glassman Focuses On Issues Impacting Harford County During Ag Leaders Summit In DC
January 13, 2012 – Senator Glassman took to Capital Hill with agriculture and rural leaders from across North America as part of the 11th Annual Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit. Continue reading
Modular Home Sprinkler Code Update, Advances to House Floor for Full Vote
April 7, 2011 - Senator Barry Glassman's Senate Bill 948 – Modular Home Sprinkler Code Update received a favorable report on April 6th by the House Environmental Matters Committee. Glassman's bill was passed with a unanimous vote on the Senate Floor on March 24th. This bill will now move to the House Chamber where it will face a full floor vote. Continue reading
Session Update - Fiscal Year 2012 State Budget
April 1, 2011 - Dear Friends, I just wanted to give you a quick update regarding the State Budget that we received from the Maryland House of Delegates this week. As the Budget came over, it only contained $6 million in cuts out of a $14 billion Budget. It also represented an additional $1 billion in spending to backfill the loss of federal monies which the O'Malley administration relied upon last year. I voted against the Budget for several reasons, as it continues to push the hard decisions down the road for future generations. Continue reading
Class G or Livestock Trailer or Semitrailer
March 24, 2011 - Senator Glassman's Senate Bill 497 –Vehicle Laws – Registration Classifications – Class G or Livestock Trailer or Semitrailer, passed with a unanimous vote on the Senate Floor this morning. The bill will now move to the House for committee review. Continue reading
North Harford Students Brave Snow, Testify In Annapolis
February 22, 2011 – A few hardy North Harford students and faculty braved the snow on Tuesday and travelled to Annapolis to testify on one of North Harford Senator Barry Glassman's legislative proposals. Continue reading
Governor's Septic Proposal Would Set Back Harford County Planning
February 17, 2011 – Senator Barry Glassman, R – 35, said this week that Governor O'Malley's recent septic proposal would throw out forty plus years of planning by Harford County. Continue reading
Now Accepting District 35 State Senatorial Scholarship Applications
February 9, 2011 - Harford County Senator Barry Glassman would like to announce that he is accepting State Senatorial Scholarship applications now until April 15, 2011. Continue reading
Senator Glassman's Senate Bill 69 – Property Tax – Assessment Appeal Hearings – Right to Record
February 3, 2011 – Senator Glassman's Senate Bill 69 Property Tax – Assessment Appeal Hearings- Right to Record, quickly passed out of the Budget and Taxation Committee and will be moving to the Senate Floor. Continue reading
Senator Glassman Supporting An Ecology Learning Center At The Broad Creek Maryland Boy Scout Camp In Harford County
January 28, 2011 – Northern Harford County State Senator Barry Glassman (35) of Harford County and the Boy Scouts of America, Baltimore Area Council seek bond bill funding from the State of Maryland in the amount of $500,000 to construct the Broad Creek Maryland Boy Scouts of America Ecology Learning Center. Continue reading.
Senator Glassman's New Appointments
January 20, 2011 – Northern Harford County State Senator Barry Glassman (35) has recently been appointed to join the Joint Committee on Fair Practice and State Personnel Oversight, as well as the Joint Sub Committee on Program Open Space/ Agricultural Land Preservation and the Joint Committee on Unemployment Insurance Oversight. Senator Glassman also serves on the Finance Committee. Continue reading.
Senator Barry Glassman Proposes Downsizing State's Oversight Of School Construction
January 18, 2011 - Northern Harford County State Senator Barry Glassman (35) of Harford County is focusing on school construction regulation and funding as an area of reform. Glassman stated that "if the State is going to begin pulling back funding of pensions and direct education aide, then we should also look differently at the way we approve and fund local school construction." Continue reading.
Agreement for Future Agricultural Exposition Center
Northern Harford County Senator Barry Glassman (R-35) announced today that he, County Executive David Craig, and Council President Billy Boniface have reached an agreement with MD Program Open Space (POS) officials to use a 63.78 acre parcel in Dublin for the future site of a Harford County Agricultural Exposition Center.
Farmer's Market Bills Unanimously Pass Maryland Senate
Northern Harford County State Senator Barry Glassman spent a good deal of time over the summer meeting with representatives of local farmer’s markets, market producers, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), and the Maryland Department of Agriculture to streamline some of the regulations related to Producer Mobile Farmer’s Licenses.
Sen. Glassman Receives Legislator Of The Year Award From State Firemen
Northern Harford County State Senator Barry Glassman (R-35) received the Senator William H. Amoss Memorial Legislative Award Tuesday at the Maryland State Firemen’s 117th Annual Convention in Ocean City. Senator Glassman, who thought he was presenting citations at the morning session, was surprised as he was introduced to the convention.
Harford Elected School Board Legislation Signed By Gov. O’Malley
WBAL
Session Updates
BALTIMORE
SUN Session Updates
Delegate Glassman Sponsors Legislation in the House of Delegates
A complete listing of all of the bills that Delegate Glassman is sponsoring or
co-sponsoring may be found on the Maryland General Assembly website by clicking
here.
Delegate Glassman has been appointed to the Environmental Matters Committee,
and continues to serve on the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and
Legislative Review (AELR).
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Annapolis Update
Maryland General Assembly Session 2005
As seen in the Friday February 4th, 2005 Aegis
Annapolis, MD - I am happy to report that the Harford County Delegation
has landed on its feet for the 2005 Session of the Maryland General
Assembly. As you are aware, the Delegation attended a Special Session
during the final days of December to address the ongoing Medical Malpractice
Liability rate crisis. The Governor called the General Assembly into
Special Session and the Assembly passed a bill which was very weak on tort
reform and included a 2% HMO tax. As promised, the Governor vetoed that
bill and we arrived here in Annapolis a day early to conclude our Special
Session on January 11th . During the conclusion of the Special Session on
January 11, the Delegation attended the House Floor Session to consider
overrides of Governor Ehrlich’s vetoes. The bill which garnered the most
attention, of course, was the Medical Malpractice reform bill, which passed the
House with 85 votes. The House and Senate overrode the Governor’s veto
and the Medical Malpractice Reform bill was enacted into law. The
acrimony from that Special Session has begun to thaw a little as we approach
our third week of the 2005 regular Session.
Recently it became clear, that the HMO insurance companies were indeed going to
pass the 2% HMO tax onto their customers. I voted against the Medical
Liability Reform bill because of the HMO tax and the fact that the Senate
stripped out most of the tort reform and thus, medical liability rates will
probably not be reduced because of any substantial tort reform.
The Harford County Delegation was united in opposing this bill and we will be
working towards real tort reform during the present Session. As the dust
has settled from the Special Session debates, the County Delegation began work
on our school construction priorities and appeared before the Board of Public
Works with the County Executive and the Superintendent of Schools. The
three major projects that we appealed before the Board of Public Works, was the
North Harford High School modernization balance of funding, which is
approximately $3.5 million, the North Harford Middle School systemic HVAC
renovation which is approximately $4.7 million and replacement of the John
Archer School roof for $428,000. We also began to appeal the future
construction funding of the Patterson Mill Middle/High School building.
The project is currently at 95% construction document preparation and the Board
anticipates a late winter bid, and a construction start in April. The
County Executive and County Council are forward funding this project for the
time being. The Delegation did receive good news in the Governor’s
capital projects budget when the North Harford High School funding of $3.5
million was included. We will now work on the remaining construction
projects which we still need to obtain funding.
The Governor’s budget proposal does reflect the improving economic picture in
Maryland. The budget, which is a $25.9 billion budge, is balanced.
It includes a $432 million increase for education which is the largest K-12
funding increase in Maryland’s history. Additionally, the Governor has proposed
$155 million for school construction which is approximately a 55%
increase. The budget also includes a 2% cost of living adjustment for our
valuable state employees and step increases where appropriate. Harford
County will enjoy a 12.6% increase in local aid from the State of
Maryland. In addition to the local aid increase, Harford County was
successful in obtaining the largest transportation project submitted in the
transportation capital planning program for the improvements at I-95 and Rt. 24
in the Bel Air area.
On the local front, the Harford County Delegation is working closely with the
Harford County Liquor Control Board to modernize their fee structure and
provide some additional opportunities for bed and breakfast establishments in
Harford County. We have also submitted a bill which will exempt
agricultural tourism events from the State amusements and entertainment
tax. The Delegation worked closely with municipal police chiefs and the
Sheriff’s department over the summer to develop local legislation which will
give municipal police officers some authority outside of their city boundaries
for serious traffic violations. This will provide municipal officers some
jurisdiction when dealing with life threatening circumstances outside of city
limits on county or state highways. They currently only have authority
for criminal matters.
On a personal level, I have just completed the review process for regulations
which were approved for governing underground storage tanks as it relates to
our ongoing struggle with MTBE. These regulations will require the
installation of monitoring wells and testing to be completed in areas not
served by public water. In addition, newer gas stations will have state
of the art design standards for piping and monitoring. These new
regulations will go a long way in addressing the MTBE crisis in Maryland.
I am, however, submitting additional legislation to strengthen current law as
it relates to notification, testing of non-transient water systems and the
study of whether MTBE should be required on a national level by the
Environmental Protection Agency. I anticipate as the new regulations for
testing in Maryland’s rural counties begin to materialize, we will see a great
many rural communities finding that the MTBE problem has manifested itself in
their well water.
I have also been appointed by the Chair of the Environmental Matters Committee
to participate in a work group which will review all Open Space and Land
Preservation bills dealing with how the State evaluates surplus property.
During the summer, many of my northern Harford County constituents expressed
their concern about the method by which the state evaluates Open Space and
surplus property. This will give me an opportunity to play a role in
developing the legislature’s response to protecting our Open Space and natural
resources from sale or transfer.
As Chairman of the Harford County Delegation, I can tell you that although the
Delegation is not the largest in the Maryland General Assembly, it is one of
the hardest working Delegations in Annapolis. Our Delegates are always
first on the floor and usually the last to leave. Being small, we have to
work in a unified manner to cover all of the committees and to make sure that
our school construction and legislative priorities are obtained. Please
make sure to stay in contact with your local delegate and feel free to contact
me here in Annapolis at 1(800)492-7122, ext. 3289 or e-mail at barry_glassman
@house.state.md.us. During the next several weeks, you will be hearing
from each member of the County Delegation regarding their priorities and their
update on how the 2005 Session is progressing. I would also remind you
that on Friday evenings at 8:00 pm, the Delegation hosts a live call in show on
Harford Cable Network to answer questions and give updates on the Session’s
activities.
Thank you for giving me the privilege to serve you and be your voice in
Annapolis for Harford County.
With every good wish I remain,
Very truly yours,
Barry Glassman
Chairman
Harford County Delegation
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Assembly to consider MD. ban of gas additive
Lawmakers may not have to pick clean air or water
By Timothy B.
Wheeler
** See end of article **Sun Staff Originally published February 14, 2005
When Maryland lawmakers consider this week what to do about the gasoline
additive contaminating hundreds of wells across the state, they'll be torn
between appeals to protect the public's drinking water or its air.
But some environmental experts suggest that Marylanders are being confronted
with a false choice - one foisted on them years ago by political horse- trading
in Washington. Advances in refining have produced fuels that burn cleaner
without additives.
Three bills have been introduced in Annapolis to phase out methyl tertiary
butyl ether (MTBE) in gasoline within five years.
Those and other MTBE-related measures, due for a hearing Wednesday, have been
drawn up by legislators from Harford County, where detection of the gas
additive in 178 Fallston-area wells last summer sparked an uproar.
"There's great support in the community of Fallston and other affected areas
around the state that something really needs to be done to get a handle on
this," said Del. Joanne S. Parrott, a Harford Republican and co-sponsor of one
of the bills.
Added to gasoline in the early 1990s to help fight unhealthful summer smog,
MTBE has leaked from underground tanks and is tough to remove once it seeps
into groundwater. State officials say the additive has polluted about 600
private wells, most in the Baltimore area.
If Maryland lawmakers act to bar MTBE, the state would join 17 others,
including California and New York, that have taken similar action to safeguard
drinking water.
Lobbyists for the oil industry and state environmental regulators, however, are
warning that motorists could wind up paying higher gas prices - and breathing
dirtier air - if Maryland bans the additive.
That's because Congress ordered in 1990 that in smoggy regions such as
Baltimore, "oxygenates" be added to gasoline to make it burn more cleanly. But
in prescribing ingredients for cleaner-burning gas, federal lawmakers
guaranteed lucrative markets for makers of MTBE and ethanol, the two chemicals
then deemed acceptable.
"It was a political decision," said S. William Becker, executive director of a
national association of state air pollution regulators.
If Maryland bars MTBE, federal officials are expected to require gasoline sold
in the state to contain another clean-burning additive, probably ethanol.
"We're urging caution," said Charlie Drevna, director of advocacy for the
National Petrochemical and Refiners Association.
Oil industry officials say Maryland could have difficulty getting enough ethanol
because demand for the grain-based chemical in states that have barred MTBE may
be outstripping the supply. And with MTBE constituting more than 10 percent of
gasoline, removing it would diminish the fuel supply, industry officials say.
Air-quality studies in California have found that running vehicles on fuel with
ethanol, rather than MTBE, resulted in slightly more ozone pollution - the key
ingredient in smog.
"It's not a huge increase, but in a state like ours, where any amount of ozone
puts us over federal environmental health standards, we can't afford any," said
Jerry Martin, spokesman for the California Air Resources Board. Using ethanol
also has added 4 cents to 8 cents a gallon to the cost of gasoline, he said.
Maryland environmental officials have not taken a position on whether to bar
MTBE. Yet they contend that the groundwater problem that prompted the move to
ban it could be fixed by recently adopted emergency regulations aimed at
curtailing leaks of the additive. The rules require double-walled tanks and
pipes when new fuel tanks are installed, and stations must monitor groundwater
more closely.
"We're making every attempt to keep MTBE in the tanks and want to give a chance
to have the emergency regulations work," said Herbert Meade, chief of oil
control for the Maryland Department of the Environment.
Harford residents say they are torn by the issue.
"We don't want MTBE in the water," said Dr. Gene Ratych, vice president of the
Greater Fallston Association. "Of course, we're also conscious of the fact we
don't want to remove an oxygenate and wind up with more pollutants in the
atmosphere."
But others say Maryland shouldn't have to substitute ethanol for MTBE.
California officials say their research has found that gasoline can be refined
to burn just as cleanly without additives.
"Our contention is that they're not necessary; they should not be mandated,"
said Dean Simeroth, branch chief for California's Air Resources Board.
Oil industry officials agree. Refining improvements since 1990 enable the
production of cleaner-burning gasoline, Drevna said.
California and New York have asked the Environmental Protection Agency to waive
the federal mandate to add oxygenators to gasoline sold there. The agency
rejected California's first request four years ago, but a federal appeals court
ordered it to reconsider. The EPA is considering the petitions but is looking
to Congress for a nationwide solution.
A phaseout of the additive mandate was included in energy legislation that the
Congress narrowly failed to pass last year. A similar measure is being
introduced this year but faces opposition over a likely provision that would
limit industry liability for MTBE contamination of groundwater.
Del. Barry Glassman, a Harford Republican, has introduced a bill that would
require Maryland officials to file a petition similar to those from California
and New York. His bill also would commission a yearlong study of the economic
and environmental impacts of eliminating MTBE from gasoline here.
Glassman said Maryland must proceed carefully - and probably in concert with
neighboring mid-Atlantic states - but cannot stick with the status quo. He
warned that more contaminated wells may be found as new state rules take effect
requiring checks of groundwater around service stations.
"When these older stations start digging their monitoring wells and doing
pressure tests, I think we're going to see there's an existing problem we don't
even know about," Glassman said.
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Push starts to ban MTBE
Delegate's resolution aims to ask EPA to bar Md. use; 'Fairly difficult to do';
Transport of fuel without contaminant complicated
By Artika
Rangan
Sun Staff Originally published July 18,
2004 From "The Baltimore Sun"
Harford Del. Barry Glassman is drafting a House resolution that would ask the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to prohibit the use of MTBE in Maryland's
fuel supply.
Glassman, a Republican and leader of the county's legislative delegation, said
the resolution would be the most appropriate way to address the problem of
MTBE, or methyl tertiary butyl ether, since federal requirements authorize use
of the potentially carcinogenic chemical under the Clean Air Act. In 1990, that
legislation required the use of oxygenates in gasoline to help the fuel burn
more cleanly and reduce pollutants emitted from motor vehicles.
Local concern for the gasoline additive grew when investigators found early last
month that an MTBE leak in the Upper Crossroads section of Fallston had
contaminated wells there. Since then, at least 84 properties have been found to
have the chemical present in their wells. Although no leak has been found at
the Exxon station at Routes 152 and 165, environmental officials have said they
believe that it is partly responsible for the problem.
Since the MTBE contamination was discovered, area residents have been drinking
bottled water, and some have installed filtration systems, paid for by Exxon
Mobil.
Glassman said he is most worried by MTBE's possibly carcinogenic qualities.
"I do not think the state can act unilaterally to ban MTBE," Glassman said. "We
need to get the requirement removed at the federal level first."
But Richard McIntire, spokesman for the Maryland Department of the Environment,
called Glassman's proposed request "fairly difficult to do."
Because the state does not have refineries, and consequently depends on oil
produced in the Mid-Atlantic region, removing MTBE from Maryland's fuel supply
could mean having to transport fuel from across the country, he said.
Sixteen states have banned or restricted the gasoline additive in their fuel
supply, with New York being the closest to Maryland.
"It raises a lot of issues," McIntire said. "It creates transportation questions
of trucking the oil. It raises the question of what we would use to replace
MTBE. And it would extremely raise gas costs if Maryland were to stand by
itself in the Mid-Atlantic region."
Congress has been mulling a nationwide phase-out of MTBE as part of a bill
setting new federal energy policy, but has been unable to agree on the measure.
A task force looking at MTBE contamination in the state recommended in 2001
phasing out its use, but state officials decided that was impractical.
Robert Masters, hydrologist for the National Ground Water Association, a
nonprofit organization based in Ohio, said MTBE is the most popular gasoline
additive used in the nation.
Although it is not the only option, he said, the alternatives to MTBE, such as
ethanol, are more costly.
"MTBE was the most inexpensive oxygenate to make," Masters said. "Effectively,
if the tanks didn't leak, it would be a good thing."
But MTBE leaks have caused growing concern in the area.
The Fallston Community Council will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at
Fallston High School, 2301 Carrs Mill Road, to provide an update on the well
contamination.
Also, the state environmental department tested water from Youth's Benefit
Elementary School in Fallston last week because of the school's proximity to
the contaminated wells in the Upper Crossroads area. The school district
expects the results within a few weeks.
MTBE levels have declined significantly at the Exxon station in Upper Crossroads
since a treatment system was installed June 17, according to state
environmental officials. Last month, when the wells were first tested, a
reading of 26,000 parts per billion was recorded beneath the station's fuel
tanks. Since the treatment began, readings have fallen to 97.3 parts per
billion.
More than a dozen sites in Harford County, including Fallston Presbyterian
Church, have tested positive for MTBE. The church registered 229 parts per
billion of MTBE in its water in March of last year. The state recommends that
corrective action be taken when the contamination level reaches 20 parts per
billion.
Glassman worries that more sites will test positive.
"The more people start looking at different areas," he said, "there's more that
may be out there that we don't know about."
Sun staff writer Timothy B. Wheeler contributed to this article.
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Local Sewer Plants Targeted in Chesapeake Watershed Restoration Fund
January 23, 2004
Annapolis, Md. Local Harford County Delegation Chairman Barry
Glassman reported this week that Harford's six county municipal sewage
treatment plants were included in the Governors' proposed Chesapeake Bay
Watershed Restoration Fund.
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Fund will create a dedicated fund to
upgrade the sixty-six largest sewage treatment plants which are located in
Maryland's twenty-three jurisdictions.
Glassman indicated that the Governor's proposal does incorporate an
environmental surcharge of $2.50 per household and a $2.50 surcharge per month
for every 250 gallons of discharge for all businesses. This would apply
only to customers of water and sewer in the county. The current bill does
not affect people that are supported by wells and septics. The Fund,
which will be administered by the Department of the Environment, will also
support state revenue bonds that will provide the estimated $750 million to $1
billion needed to complete the necessary upgrades.
The upgrades of the sixty-six major sewage treatment plants will reduce the
nitrogen loading to the Bay and its tributaries by 7.5 million pounds per year,
approximately 1/3 of the additional reduction needed for Maryland to meet its
commitments under the 2000 Bay Agreement.
Glassman had stated that he has long supported upgrading sewage treatment plants
which have a history of discharging into the Susquehanna and upper Bay.
"I am glad to see that the State is moving towards cleaning up these treatment
plants and not just placing all the blame on Maryland's farmers" stated
Glassman.
Design and construction of the upgrades for the first plants can begin as soon
as 2005. Design and construction of additional plant upgrades will be
phased in each year, and the construction of all sixty-six upgrades can be
initiated by 2009 and completed by 2011.
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DELEGATE GLASSMAN RE-ELECTED COUNTY CHAIR
September 20, 2003
Maryland State Delegate Barry Glassman R (35A) was re-elected Chairman of
Harford County's House contingent to the Maryland General Assembly. Glassman
served as Chair for two years in his first term in the House and headed the
County Delegation last year in Annapolis.
The northern Harford representative received six out of the eight votes cast
with Delegates James, Parrott, Glassman, Impallaria, McDonough and Jennings
voting in the affirmative with Delegates Boutin and McComas dissenting.
Delegate Joanne Parrott R (35A) who is Glassman's seatmate in District 35A will
continue in her role as Vice Chair and was elected with a 6-2 vote also.
The Delegation tentatively scheduled its fall legislative meeting with County
officials for November 5th at Harford Community College. This annual
event gives various county agencies an opportunity to bring their wish list and
agenda items before the County Delegation.
Delegate Glassman also received approval from the Delegation to hold a meeting
in early January on the possible submission of a School Construction Financing
Bill to enable the County Council to raise revenue for school construction
projects. The meeting will give parents, local PTA representatives and
industry representatives an opportunity to give comments on the proposal prior
to the opening of the 2004 Session on January 14th.
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DELEGATE GLASSMAN SEEKS ENABLING LEGISLATION TO AID COUNTY SCHOOLS
July 23, 2003
With school overcrowding in Harford County at what some call crisis levels,
Delegate Barry Glassman (District 35A) has composed legislation that could help
find a solution.
As the chairman of the Harford County delegation to the Maryland General
Assembly, Delegate Glassman lead Senator Hooper (District 35) and Delegates
Parrott (35A), McComas (35B), James (34), Impallaria (7), Jennings (7), and
McDonough (7) in a meeting with the County Council on Thursday, July 17. The
historic meeting, the first in memory between the delegation and the council,
was called by Glassman to tackle issues surrounding school construction.
The draft would enable the council with new taxing abilities
for the sole use of school contruction, rennovation, and debt payment was
introduced to the council. The bill would give the council the ability to
impose an excise tax, impact fee, and/or 0.5% raise to the county's transfer
tax. The transfer tax increase alone could raise $6 million for school
construction funding.
Glassman stressed that this was a rough draft, available for
consideration and debate by the council and delegation members, as well as the
public at large. He stated that he wanted to give the council a broad gamut of
possibilities, and that any taxes and increases would have to be the
responsibility of the council. Any exemptions would also be up to the council,
save for one for buildings used for agricultural purposes, which Glassman said
was needed for other reasons.
Delegate Glassman asked the council to send him a letter of
suggestions, ideas, and hopes within the month for consideration of the
delegation prior to its September community outreach meeting.
The meeting was hailed as a hallmark in the debate over how
to handle the county's school woes. According to one
attendee, "it [the meeting] was
one of the best meetings in the area in a long time, and is a sign of progress
and the willingness of the branches of government to come together over such a
crucial, bipartisan issue."
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DELEGATE GLASSMAN APPOINTED TO LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
January 23, 2003
Annapolis - Delegate Barry Glassman, R-35A-Harford County, has been
appointed to the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative
Review (AELR). Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-30-Anne Arundel, appointed Delegate
Glassman to this prestigious committee to help examine all new state
regulations.
“I look forward to serving on AELR because the regulations we approve
impact small business and families throughout the state,” Delegate Glassman
said. “I anticipate playing an important role in making Maryland a more
business friendly state.”
The Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review Committee reviews all
regulations proposed by executive units. The AELR examines the performance of
officers and employees in the three branches of government to determine
compliance with state laws. The Committee also reviews the operation of
executive units and agencies, and may make recommendations for improvements.
Delegate Glassman has served Harford County as a member of the House of
Delegates since 1999. He is currently a member of the Economic Matters
Committee. Delegate Glassman also serves as the Chairman of the Harford County
Delegation.
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Glassman asks Ehrlich to Freeze Roundabout Construtction
Northern Harford Delegate Barry Glassman's first cast saving suggestion to Gov.
Ehrlich's transition team is to freeze construction of traffic controlling
Roundabouts.
In addition to speaking with Ehrlich's Policy Director Joe Getty, Glassman has
met with Del. Robert Flanagan (R) who has been tapped to serve as Secretary of
Transportation.
"I think the public finds these Roundabouts as a nuisance and wonder why
Maryland is building more and more roundabouts when other states have stopped"
stated Glassman.
Glassman reported that as many as three Roundabouts have been proposed on MD
Route 155- Level Road- in a 5 mile stretch. He believes the locations to
be at the new road entrance at the 95 interchange, Paradise Road and at
Darlington Road.
If we are not careful Level Road will become Harford County's "Roundabout
Alley."
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Delegate Scholarship Deadline
Annapolis, MD--Delegate Barry Glassman’s Maryland State Delegate Scholarship
deadline is April 30, 2005. Students who have already obtained their
application forms should make sure to return all forms to Delegate Glassman’s
District Office at 2845 Churchville Road, Churchville, MD 21028.
Interested students may call the office at 410-836-2400 for information. The
program is available to college bound seniors and current college students.
Applications can also be obtained on his website at www.barryglassman.com.
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