When Eileen M. Rehrmann took the oath of office for a second term as Harford County executive, she promised to make economic development one of her top priorities.
"The competition for jobs and industry has significantly increased. . . . We must do more to meet the increased competition and changing times," she told the audience of about 800 at Harford Community College.
Mrs. Rehrmann's inauguration Monday was followed by that of County Council President Joanne S. Parrott and the six other members of the council.
In a departure from previous inaugurations, Joseph P. Meadows, the newly elected sheriff, shared the stage with the executive and council members and was sworn in at the same ceremony.
Mrs. Rehrmann said that within the next six months she will hold a summit of business leaders in the county to develop a "strategic plan for business expansion in the county."
"We need to better balance our tax base," she told the inaugural audience, noting that new businesses will contribute substantially more to the county's tax base than will new residences.
"Our county will continue its commitment to attract higher value, higher yield jobs."
After the ceremony, the executive said she will name a steering committee next month to plan the summit, at which a comprehensive plan for economic development in the county will be discussed.
The summit participants will explore three major areas of growth: attracting new business and industry to the county; expanding existing businesses; and redeveloping older business areas in the county, particularly in Edgewood, Aberdeen and Havre de Grace.
Mrs. Rehrmann's inaugural speech mixed a review of her administration's accomplishments with a look at the challenges of the future, including the county's fiscal health. During her first term, she said, the county was able to maintain services without increasing tax rates.
But county revenue is growing at a slower pace than ever before, she said: The last quarterly local income tax revenues showed an increase of only .25 percent, one of the lowest growth rates in recent history.
"We must face a 'reality check' and, together, as we have in the past, adjust our budgets, priorities and expectations accordingly."
She said later that she has instructed all department heads to initiate as many cost-containment efforts as possible to reduce spending for the remainder of fiscal 1995.
"There are no magic answers or quick fixes," she told her audience, which included a significant number of county employees, and she encouraged all of them to work together.
As council president, Mrs. Parrott called for a similar spirit of cooperation as she noted the major legislative task before the council in the next four years: the review of the master land-use plan and comprehensive rezoning of the county.
"This is the document that will control our growth, mold our future, shape our county as we enter the 21st century," she said in a speech following the council's oaths.
She said that under her leadership the new council will be "friendly protagonists to the executive branch, reviewing everything, challenging what needs to be challenged, approving what does not."
"I want our council to act as a single body, with unity," Mrs. Parrott said.
"I will not tolerate grandstanding to enhance personal agendas as we have seen in the recent past."