The Center for the Arts Foundation could get a $50,000 parking lot, if an updated version of the county budget is approved by the County Council.
The council unanimously passed an amendment Tuesday night approving the funding, as well as a host of other amendments to County Executive Barry Glassman's proposed Fiscal Year 2016 budget.
The Center for the Arts Foundation asked the administration if they could build a "small parking lot" on the 41-acre site west of Route 24 at Wheel Road, Director of Administration Billy Boniface told the County Council Tuesday.
He clarified that the amendment, which adds $50,000 to the parks and recreation capital project for the Center for the Arts, would not come from the county's coffers.
The lot "would enable them to bring potential donors to the site to kind of visualize the location and help support their efforts to secure private funds," Boniface said. "The Center for the Arts, which is not part of Harford County government, feels by doing this, investing their own funds - these are not county dollars – into this, it will help them in those efforts."
The parcel, part of the 110-acre estate of Emily Bayless Graham conveyed to Harford County, must be used to build the performing arts center by late 2018, or it may revert back to the estate. Boniface noted there is a possible three-year extension on the agreement.
Boniface said the county does not plan to maintain the lot and does not want to spend any additional funds on the project.
The county is working on a memorandum of understanding with the foundation allowing them to move forward, so "there is no guarantee they will be moving forward, but this will give us an opportunity if they are able to come to an agreement with the county."
Community leaders have envisioned a physical building to host county performing arts since 2004, and the Foundation is working with a New York architectural firm, H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture, on its master plan, according to the Foundation's website.
Kathy Smith, chief executive officer for Center for the Arts, said Thursday the group was pleased the council allowed Center for the Arts to move forward with the parking lot, for those who want to see the site or the walking trail on the Bayless Graham land.
She also said "the trustee is very amenable to the extension" of three years, if necessary, for the project. Smith said "he has expressed support" for the Center for the Arts building.
"We're excited," she said about progress on the project.
Although the council approved the amendment, councilmembers did not vote on the total budget, which must be passed by June 15.
Budget changes
Besides the Center for the Arts funding, the council also approved 29 other amendments, which include moving funds for position transfers to the Department of Community Services and Budget and Management Research, as well as contractual services for facilities and operations, Budget and Management Research Chief Kim Spence said.
Other amendments add appropriation authority for existing stormwater management projects, add appropriation authority for state grants for the Havre de Grace Library expansion and reallocate funds for road improvement projects, including resurfacing and handicap access, Spence said.
The council passed all the changes unanimously at the Tuesday meeting.
Teachers' union optimistic
Also at Tuesday's meeting, Harford County Education Association president Ryan Burbey told the council he was happy with Glassman's proposed budget.
The county executive supported $3.1 million of increased funding for teacher salaries and called the line item "a priority."
Burbey said he applauded Glassman "for the construction of the budget this year" and for the change in the way the whole process was done.
"Now there is discussion and communication," Burbey said, calling it "much appreciated."
The teachers' union leader, who has frequently warned about the dire status of the school system and urged the council to support teachers, said: "This budget represents a big step forward for all of us."
"What a difference a year makes," Burbey said, referring to Glassman's first year in office.