News and Notes from Councilman Dick Ladd
December 2011 Letter
Councilman Dick Ladd Anne Arundel County Council Fifth District During the last 12 months, I have had the honor and privilege to serve as the Councilman for District 5 and also as the Council Chairman. A year ago my colleagues and I agreed to continue the practice of rotating the Chairmanship every year and that I would Chair the first year. So, at the first meeting in December the Council will vote in a new Chairman and Vice Chairman. Two thousand and eleven was a unique year as there were a number of things the Council was required to do: appoint the Charter Review Commission; appoint the Board of Appeals; and take up the comprehensive rezoning bills along with the annual budget bills and all other legislation. In addition, the County Executive proposed legislative changes to the County binding arbitration process. During the year, we also had to consider a number of line item vetoes proposed by the County Executive. As the Chairman votes last, I became the fifth vote needed on a number of contentious vetoes with regard to the binding arbitration legislation and the comprehensive rezoning bills. In December, the Council will pass the last rezoning bill which includes Severna Park and the Broadneck Peninsula. Working closely with the Greater Severna Park Council and community homeowner associations yielded a broad agreement on acceptable or appropriate rezoning actions. Combined with similar agreements within the Peninsula, a number of changes to the proposed zoning bill were made and adopted. The most challenging issue was the proposal of R-15 for an adult, independent living complex proposed for  Jumpers Hole Road. This played out against the backdrop of trying to work and stay within the strictures of the Severna Park Small Area Plan and the General Development Plan. Both of these limited residential density to R-5 for that location. Throughout the County, there are several senior communities that were developed as planned unit developments, which allow more latitude for denser development. This type of development has a minimum required acreage that was not available at this site. There is no question that there is a need for additional senior, independent living opportunities in Severna Park, as the testimony of many demonstrated. In fact, Severna Park has only two R-10 zoned properties - both for senior housing. There was a large and commendable effort made to reach agreement on a way forward. I had hoped that the discussions would result in a more amicable solution which would address the need for more senior housing in the area. Several months ago I was successful in getting the County Executive and all of my colleagues to sponsor a resolution to establish a Collaborative Study Group to review existing employment and post-employment benefits by the County and to assess the impact of the continuing increase in costs of such benefits.  This is a very complex and expensive issue that is also being addressed by many other jurisdictions. The main component is the County's currently unfunded $1.2 billion liability for retiree health care plus a similar unfunded requirement at the Board of Education.
The Study Group is comprised of three of the County Executive's senior staff, two union representatives, a representative of the non-unionized county employees, myself and two other Councilmen. We have been meeting weekly since late September, issued an interim report on October 31st and will submit a final report by December 31st. The degree of cooperation and the rapidly evolving health insurance business gives the Study Group a healthy degree of optimism that we can recommend steps to greatly reduce the County's liability and propose steps to fund that liability within available funding. Notwithstanding the struggle to keep the new Severna Park High School on schedule, this has been a productive year representing Severna Park and District 5. A major challenge early next year will be the issue of storm water runoff and the maintenance of the existing infrastructure that is failing in several places. One final note is the relocation of the Hospice of the Chesapeake to the Harms property on Ritchie Highway.  Many of you, including myself, have benefited from hospice care. Of particular note is that Hospice is launching "several new programs including the Perinatal and Infant Loss Support Program which is designed to support families who have received the news that their baby has been diagnosed with a life-limiting condition which may result in stillbirth or early death.....In addition (they have) launched a Pediatric Care Program which provides care and comfort support for children and teenagers who are living with advanced illness as well as care for their loved ones with individual and group counseling during and following illness." These groundbreaking programs are unfolding right here in our community. A phrase from down under fits: "just brilliant". In closing: Sabra and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and an exquisite New Year! | 
The Bay Hills Book club will meet January 10, 2012 - The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
