NEW WINDSOR — The town grew by nearly 28 acres with the annexation of the Jack Gullo property.
The Town Council took final action on the proposal atits meeting Wednesday. No objections were raised during a recent public hearing on the annexation of the land on Route 31, south of here.
"I hope to increase the tax base for the community," said Gullo. "We all stand to gain and harvest from this down the road."
Gullo had said in previous meetings that several businesses would be interested in developing the industrially zoned land, once the town annexedit and provided water.
He said he would like to put in a driving range at one end of it.
"Route 31 is the area where expansion willbe coming," he said.
In other business, Mayor James C. Carlisle thanked Councilwoman Rebecca H. Harman for organizing Wednesday's community tree lighting service.
Gary Miller had donated lights and the use of his tree to the town. Church choirs and the Boy Scouts participated in the service.
The mayor asked the Heritage Committee to judge and provide prizes for the Christmas decorations contest. MickiSmith, president of the committee, said she had volunteers and wouldannounce the winners Dec. 21.
The council also voted to post "No Dogs" signs in the town park and ask the town police officer to enforce the ruling.
Due to the New Year's holiday, the next meeting will be Jan. 2.
CHILDREN'S COUNCIL MEETS
The Carroll County Children's Council met Wednesday and expressed concern regarding the effects of recent state budget cuts.
Linda Ebersole, president of the council, said she was concerned about the future of parenting education inthe county.
Sharon Grobaker, extension home economist with the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, will be leaving her position in the county effective July 1.
"I think it is important that we write our legislators and let them know how the loss of this person in this position will impact our county," Ebersole said. "We need the parent education to continue, since it directly affects the welfare of our children in Carroll county."
Leslie Hinebaugh, child-care coordinator for the county, agreed with Ebersole and the need for parent education in Carroll.
"I am tired of being compared to Baltimore city and Montgomery County," she said. "We have problems that are unique to our population here in Carroll. We need the parenteducation."
In other business, the council discussed the need to update the member roster and add representatives from other agencies who could make significant contributions to the Carroll County Children's Council.
PUBLIC HEARINGS SET
DATELINE: SYKESVILLE
SYKESVILLE -- Two public hearings are scheduled for tomorrow's Town Council meeting at 7 p.m. at the Town House.
Public comments will be heard on the annexation of the Harman property on Oklahoma Road and on amendments to the Floodplain Ordinance.
Also on the agenda is a discussion of action by the Planning and Zoning Commission, which is requesting a 30-day freeze on development reviews until small-town guidelines can be established, possibly by Jan. 6.
Public works will give itsannual accident report, and the Town Manager will present a road mileage report from the State Highway Administration.
Information: 795-6390.
YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Carroll is run by three County Commissioners, acting as legislative and executive bodies.
Elected at-large every four (non-presidential election) years (the current boardwas new in 1990), the Board of County Commissioners' salaries, $30,000 each, and powers, is set by the General Assembly.
The current County Commissioners are:
* President Donald L. Dell: R; Westminster, term ends 1994, home telephone 848-5486.
* Vice President ElmerC. Lippy Jr.; Manchester, term ends 1994, home telephone 239-8358.
Secretary Julia W. Gouge: R; Hampstead, term ends 1994, home telephone 239-3119.
The commissioners meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the County Office Buildilng, 225 N. Center St., Westminster.
Information: 857-2044, 857-2043 or 857-2085.
HEARING ON ANNEXATION
DATELINE: TANEYTOWN
TANEYTOWN -- The City Council will hold a public hearing at 8 p.m. tomorrow on the city's proposed annexation of the Taneytown Rod and Gun Club.
The club, located on Roberts Mill Road, is attempting to relocate outside the city away from recent housing development and wants to sell the propertyto Taneytown.
The council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.
BOARD AGENDA SET
DATELINE: WESTMINSTER
WESTMINSTER -- Among the items up for consideration by the Board of Education Wednesday is a proposed truancy citation program.
The Carroll and Frederick school systems are being asked to participate in a pilot program that would allow policeofficers to issue citations to students suspected of truancy.
Theschool system would then determine whether an unlawful absence occurred, school officials say.
If Carroll and Frederick agree to participate, a sponsor will be sought to incorporate the program into legislation. School officials view the program as another means of curbing chronic absenteeism.
During the meeting, the board also will receive reports on staff analysis and class size, a teen health card andreduced-price meals.
School officials have been asked to monitor the number of students participating in free and reduced-cost lunch programs. Board members have been concerned that recent price boosts -- to compensate for a 25 percent cut in state aid -- will curb student participation.
The board also will receive a report from its staff about current state and local improvements at the schools.
The board meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 271 of the Board of Education office, 55 N. Court St.
EXPANSION BIDS WEIGHED
DATELINE: WESTMINSTER
WESTMINSTER -- The City Council will consider bids tomorrow for engineering and architectural plans for the 10,000-square-foot Phase I expansion to City Hall.
The council's meeting is scheduled for7 p.m. in the meeting hall at the Volunteer Fire Company, 66 E. MainSt.
The council also will discuss a proposal by Councilman Kenneth A. Yowan to consider an existing building for Phase II of the plansfor expanding City Hall office space.
A consultant's study calledfor construction of a new building adjacent to City Hall after the Phase I expansion. The new building would house the Police Department and additional city office space.
At the council's last meeting, Yowan proposed an environmental and structural assessment of an existing building -- which the city has not identified -- instead of proceeding with new construction.
Tomorrow's meeting will begin with a public hearing on the concept plans for the redesign of the East Main Street reconstruction project.
Members of a task force that presided over the redesign will formally present the proposal to the council, which will take public comment on the new plans.
BUDGET NEWS IS BAD
DATELINE: HAGERSTOWN
HAGERSTOWN -- Here for the annual winter gathering of Maryland's county officials, Carroll's commissioners got an earful of news they already understand all too clearly.
"I'll tell you, there have been no surprises," said Commissioner President Donald I. Dell of the three-day Maryland Association of Counties winterconvention at the Ramada Inn here. "This is all stuff we already know."
The conference centered around budget woes on the state, county and municipal levels. For nearly two years, county officials acrossthe state have been hit with round after round of state budget cuts -- almost $5 million in Carroll County alone.
The commissioners heard experts from the field of government finance talk about how leaders can only expect bleak budget news for the foreseeable future.
"It was all to let us know how we can expect to handle the recession,"Dell said.
The commissioners also were not surprised by the governor's revelations Thursday evening of the state's latest budget shortfalls.
For the current fiscal year, which runs until June 30, Gov.William Donald Schaefer announced that the state budget was $220 million out of balance. He said that he probably would cut about $140 million from expenditures and would count on revenue increases -- possibly taxes -- to make up the remaining $80 million.
The immediate effect of such a cut on the county's budget was not known last week. Both Dell and Commissioner Julia W. Gouge said that the previous roundof cuts taken by the county were aimed at taking care of up to $1 million more in state cuts.
"If it gets higher than that, then we'llhave to cut even further," Dell said.
Among the options, Dell said, were furloughs and salary cuts for the county's 600 or so employees, cuts in services, and a reduction in spending on highway and construction projects.
The Maryland Association of Counties is an organization that lobbies the General Assembly on behalf of the state's 23counties and Baltimore City.