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Bel Air commissioners receive six ordinances updating elections, personnel, signs, zoning and administration
Summary
At the Feb. 17 meeting the Bel Air Board unanimously received six ordinances: election-code housekeeping and filing window; personnel appointment inclusion of deputy directors; sign regulation clarifications; permitted-use tables (cannabis location changes); expanded performance standards (Jersey barriers/barbed wire); and an administrative reference for liquor/cannabis waivers.
The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on Feb. 17 received six ordinances covering election housekeeping, personnel appointment review, sign and zoning clarifications, performance standards and an administrative cross-reference to state liquor and cannabis law.
Town staff explained each ordinance in turn. Mr. Krantz summarized ordinance 8-52-26, saying the change responds to a new state law that removed the State Board of Elections' authority to enter into equipment leases with municipalities and recommends amending Chapter 37 to remove direct references to the state and Harford County Board of Elections. The ordinance would also set a candidate filing window: a 90-day filing window that begins no sooner than 135 days before an election and closes no later than 45 days before an election.
Planning staff (Mr. Small) presented three land-use related ordinances: a sign-code cleanup clarifying how freestanding signs function within shopping or mixed-use centers; corrections to permitted-use tables to show cannabis business classification as retail and include mixed-use centers in applicable categories; and performance standard changes that expand prohibitions on Jersey barriers and barbed wire (the latter later discussed in detail).
Commissioner Taylor moved and Commissioner Foss seconded the various motions to receive each ordinance; the board recorded unanimous "Aye" votes from Commissioners Foss, Taylor, Hanley and Chair Eddington on each item.
Summary of ordinances and recorded outcomes at the Feb. 17 meeting: - Ordinance 8-52-26 (Chapter 37, elections): Received. Filing window recommended (90-day window; earliest 135 days before, latest 45 days before election). Motion: Commissioner Hanley; Second: Commissioner Taylor; Vote: 4-0. - Ordinance 8-53-26 (Chapter 82, personnel): Received. Expands consideration to include deputy directors for future appointments. Motion: Commissioner Taylor; Second: Commissioner Foss; Vote: 4-0. - Ordinance 8-54-26 (Chapter 165, signs): Received. Clarifies freestanding signs within shopping/mixed-use centers do not violate billboard provisions when covered by a development agreement. Motion: Commissioner Foss; Second: Commissioner Hanley; Vote: 4-0. - Ordinance 8-55-26 (Chapter 165, permitted uses): Received. Corrects permitted-use tables to show cannabis moved to retail and includes mixed-use centers. Motion: Commissioner Hanley; Second: Commissioner Taylor; Vote: 4-0. - Ordinance 8-56-26 (Chapter 165, performance standards): Received. Expands prohibition of Jersey barriers and barbed wire to all districts; director of public works may grant exceptions; appeals to board of appeals. Motion: Commissioner Taylor; Second: Commissioner Foss; Vote: 4-0. - Ordinance 8-57-26 (Chapter 165, administration/enforcement): Received. Adds reference to Maryland Code (Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis §22-1602) for waiver procedures relating to the liquor board. Motion: Commissioner Foss; Second: Commissioner Hanley; Vote: 4-0.
The board did not record final adoption votes at this meeting; the transcript shows each ordinance was "received" and in at least one case staff signaled a potential public hearing on March 16 for further action.
