[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,73,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},"mediaId",6285124,"mediaKeyId","2575239-b56a479e2fc3588214c4441effabee0c","parentId",2575239,"title","Bel Air commissioners vote to enter closed session to discuss appointments under Maryland Open Meetings Act","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2401000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2575239-b56a479e2fc3588214c4441effabee0c&start=2401&end=2401","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2575239-b56a479e2fc3588214c4441effabee0c/thumbnail_2401000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6285124/Bel-Air/Harford-County/Maryland/Bel-Air-commissioners-vote-to-enter-closed-session-to-discuss-appointments-under-Maryland-Open-Meetings-Act","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285124-ab43dbcc2bd9628429890f7dd4ef369b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184334&Signature=ULDxYS1FCDCA1QV3mfJMm1eGLxMiHMGyTC4nF4QwbYdcTRCbZyj0kfS7owykRN5l6XKUKQN-zh8Pt5hQ-CLJ5OP0U3JxUhJkjZa0FgyoxU0WpqPvp0IadHZIR~oACP7dSBhK7bOb1pL9of42W-xAcPRy20GBK-Zd~L1gz14mDyTk9DIcESpFooPn3KldLklBHZgDXFTGvNEgHPcfbPQDwPAVhlNckhI-0nh3xZW~NwOif8djrsl3vJjYROCMbJ2DEvtF278TPxxcIbP~WoY2ifRNu1ZHSQpibqHCNolgkyDiFSWFqPDtZ9lobryj46JG0uqi8NVkyyW3WKZ~ryBtqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-12T10:01:38Z","article","At the meeting’s close, a commissioner moved that the board meet in closed session under the Maryland Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(1), to discuss appointments to the town’s boards, commissions and committees. The motion was seconded and the commissioners voted in favor by voice; members stated \"Aye\" and the motion passed.

The motion specified the statutory basis for the closed session and the subject matter as appointment of officials to town boards, commissions and committees. Commissioners announced that the meeting would not return to open session for further business beyond adjournment.

The move to closed session followed a roll call confirming present members earlier in the meeting. The commissioners who voted in favor were recorded by voice; no roll-call names were entered in the public portion of the transcript beyond the earlier attendance check. The public portion of the meeting ended when staff ended the livestream prior to the closed session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/11/2025 Board of Town Commissioners Work Session Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners voted to go into closed session under Maryland Open Meetings Act General Provisions §3-305(b)(1) to discuss appointments to town boards, commissions and committees; motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.","taxTitle","Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland","taxId",54308,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":74,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":75,"_41":76,"_43":77,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6285129,"Public hearing held on Bel Air Armory fee changes; staff recommends $10 rental increase",116,242000,358000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2575239-b56a479e2fc3588214c4441effabee0c&start=242&end=358","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2575239-b56a479e2fc3588214c4441effabee0c/thumbnail_242000.jpg","/articles/6285129/Bel-Air/Harford-County/Maryland/Public-hearing-held-on-Bel-Air-Armory-fee-changes-staff-recommends-10-rental-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285129-74bead29bcd1fc1c00cca0687583d31a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184334&Signature=RAt98pskgdtrNP2R57QfI0GVmfiXhFun77T9t7LGVLLV9AIyqCY3IBFffmDe9OJHx416kWkpwGgQ4iHrCY3ahDjdatyO6bnaUbQbgE08aCFxlvCx7YN0MOQTykxWL~3cb~Rjm~6Lq~kQw4wxntkRauIVNX5m4Mo9J2Q2VjM6xdRJS7aioVl1aKIVzMM-rIcCWmR9oNgEhDVhMRSXYF9iZVWFhPgJZYMEMZOlV1uY8xcwwx6iPHJcwi5tv9~OnaWMA3Eg6AZ~2CKVkYIqca6gF9AbPb0nYqnflA4vbEz42Qx7V7AMYcSbn96GCKU0eBo7Lf4OZtV8fuSRydHT~4fHrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the meeting, staff presented a public hearing on a resolution to amend the Bel Air Armory fee schedule. The resolution, presented by Mr. Grama, proposed a $10 increase in business and individual lease rates for the Bel Air Armory — raising the base rental from $150 to $160 — and establishing a $160 six-hour minimum rate for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Mr. Grama told commissioners that staff recommends approval of the resolution following the public hearing. No public commentators or commissioners asked substantive follow-up questions during the hearing and Mr. Grama indicated he had nothing further to report.

Commissioners confirmed the matter will appear on the town’s unfinished-business agenda for a future meeting when members will consider final action. The fee change, if adopted, would affect renters of the Bel Air Armory, including community events such as the Bel Air Garden Mart that staff and commissioners discussed earlier in the meeting.

The town did not adopt the resolution at this session; staff recommended approval and the item will be scheduled for a future vote under unfinished business.","Town staff presented a resolution proposing a $10 increase to Bel Air Armory rental rates (from $150 to $160) and a specific $160 six‑hour minimum rate for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving; staff recommended approval and the item will return under unfinished business.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6285133,"Bel Air commissioners discuss steps to address growing stray cat colony in Howard Park",1241,799000,2040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2575239-b56a479e2fc3588214c4441effabee0c&start=799&end=2040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2575239-b56a479e2fc3588214c4441effabee0c/thumbnail_799000.jpg","/articles/6285133/Bel-Air/Harford-County/Maryland/Bel-Air-commissioners-discuss-steps-to-address-growing-stray-cat-colony-in-Howard-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285133-7551cdb69600362ca5f30666e37dd55d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184334&Signature=dVs44J~wtyAuOTmVMyr27gAcdxbO7Mb8rJJxGZqJ310fZ~IUXRiOEei9y83QrO5HLOfwVHNqzufl5gi416Re5qsvVfv2K7V7TgWKgFprTqRMaHyIYL4VHw~p01A3fY7-xghOD24UYPFhEPWiT~F3SE3XGT56ZeYg4Y982qhqrSM82uxGuJO0Udeb--OsZYDy9T1VBHx0So3UkAiqyFtcYd5c22Mq5uOS6hrw1jxTIKAlCPXmmzMQ4wLS36ZHP4vOFykcXuuqHO42zH9zAwJ0oG4tRWEMysYF7-jReu48hbfVuN5MW0R56E5GfGMAH3y9mXJiuY-tKEInHeyycbrkEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the Town of Bel Air meeting, commissioners discussed recurring complaints about a growing colony of stray cats in the Howard Park neighborhood and possible responses, including working with Harford County animal-control and local humane-society partners.

Town Administrator Hopkins outlined the problem’s history, saying residents first raised concerns around 2021 and a local nonprofit had used trap-neuter-vaccinate-release (TNVR) efforts that temporarily reduced the population. Hopkins said two neighborhood residents had been feeding cats; one stopped but another continued, and the colony has since expanded. Hopkins said he has contacted the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and that the county’s animal-control unit is consulting with county legal counsel about the situation.

The discussion centered on three options commissioners and staff raised: rely on county animal-control and state law, coordinate TNVR and humane-society intake where possible, or strengthen town animal-control ordinances—which would shift enforcement and costs to the town. Hopkins and multiple commissioners expressed reluctance to create a separate town animal-control unit because of the administrative and financial burden and the difficulty of enforcing civil citations if residents do not pay them or appear in court.

Commissioners and staff cited practical obstacles. The current civil-animal fine cited in discussion is $50; officials said that raising fines alone might not solve the problem and could be difficult to enforce. Commissioners noted humane-society capacity limits and warned against moving large numbers of cats to shelters at once. Several commissioners emphasized that neutering all animals in the colony is the only reliable long-term solution, but observed TNVR is time-consuming and costly.

Officials also cited public-health concerns. A recent finding of a rabid cat in the nearby Edgewood area was raised in the meeting as a reason for urgency; staff said public-safety and health risks increase attention from county partners. Commissioners described quality-of-life impacts for affected residents, including cat feces, urine odors on patios, and damage to gardens and outdoor furniture that some residents said had forced them to replace mulch with river rock.

Rather than immediate enforcement action, the commissioners directed Hopkins to convene an interagency work group of relevant agencies and stakeholders (Harford County animal-control representatives, police/chief staff, and humane-society contacts) to clarify roles, legal authorities and practical options. Hopkins said he will not involve the broader community until the work group has met so officials can manage expectations and present options. If the county declines to act or volunteers cannot resolve the problem, Hopkins said staff may return with legislative options or other recommendations.

Next steps recorded at the meeting: Hopkins will schedule the work-group meeting to gather agency guidance and identify feasible interventions; once staff and agencies have a clear plan, the town will consider whether any ordinance changes or public engagement are necessary.","Town officials reviewed years of community complaints about a large cat colony in Howard Park, discussed trap-neuter-return efforts, county animal-control jurisdiction, humane-society capacity and next steps including a staff-led interagency work group.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bel Air commissioners vote to enter closed session to discuss appointments under Maryland Open Meetings Act

Public hearing held on Bel Air Armory fee changes; staff recommends $10 rental increase

Bel Air commissioners discuss steps to address growing stray cat colony in Howard Park