On the Council level, we will have to react to any type of state mandate. There is a fear that the state will require increased spending from local governments on education for the next decade based on the recommendation of a group known as the Kirwan Commission. Of course there is no plan of how to pay for the increased state or local spending yet.

On the local level, I commend the Board of Education for taking on the issue of decreasing class sizes in Elementary Schools. Reducing elementary class sizes is one tangible way that we can make a lasting difference in children’s education. When class sizes get too large in Elementary School, kids can get lost in the middle as teachers focus on those lagging behind.

More time and energy has been spent on the creating a new, environmentally focused group to advise the county on the Monocacy River. This group has been titled the Sustainable Monocacy River Commission. The group will essentially replace the old Monocacy River Commission which was created by the state and worked cooperatively with Carroll County with a Frederick only Commission with reduced Monocacy River landowner and Farm Bureau participation in favor of increased scientific representation. The body is strictly advisory, but it is all too easy to convert recommendations made from a body such as this to law. We must be vigilant to ensure that property rights are not diminished further.

The Councy Council is beginning work on Question D implementation which required binding arbitration for career firefighters. I did not support Question D as I do not agree with budgetary decisions being made by an unelected arbitrator not accountable to anyone in Frederick County. This could lead to unrealistic budget expectations that could require an increase in county revenue (read as increased taxes). It will be important to implement this in a way that does not negatively impact the finances of the county.

Finally, a note of interest to Walkersville; the old Walkersville Library was given to the Board of Education for continued public use in exchange for some other property that the Board of Education was not planning on utilizing. This was a positive exchange for the citizens to continue to make the best use of county resources.