Bel Air commissioners select Hopkins as 'mayor,' Reier as vice chair

Eddie Hopkins became the Town of Bel Air's new mayor Monday evening, as the Board of Town Commissioners reorganized following the Nov. 8 town election.

Hopkins and Rob Reier, who were re-elected to the town board, and new commissioner Susan Burdette, who was elected to her first term, were sworn in by Harford Clerk of the Circuit Court Jim Reilly after the outgoing board conducted its final business, a hearing and vote on an ordinance updating the development regulations.

Once the ceremony was completed, the five commissioners, Hopkins, Reier and Burdette joined by holdover commissioners Dave Carey and Rob Preston, voted unanimously to make Hopkins chairman and Reier vice chairman.

The board chairman historically has been accorded the ceremonial title of "mayor." As chairman, Hopkins replaced Carey, who had held the post since 2009 and had served as chairman earlier in his tenure, which began in 1997. Reier replaced Preston as vice chairman. Preston had also previously served as chairman.

Hopkins, an administrator with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and a retired county sheriff's deputy, is a lifelong Bel Air resident who was first elected to the town board in 2007. Reier, a chiropractor, joined the board in 2005 to fill a vacancy and then was elected to a full term in 2007.

Development regulations

Prior to the swearing-in ceremony, the old board held a public hearing an updated development regulations ordinance which, according to Planning Director Kevin Small, predominantly deals with formalizing current procedures, correcting outdated references and adding sections for wind and solar energy accessories.

There were no comments during the hearing, and board members unanimously approved the measure with one amendment to change references to the Bel Air Fire Department to the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, the organization's official name.

The development regulations ordinance vote was the action taken by outgoing commissioner Terence Hanley, who served eight years on the board. Hanley was defeated by Burdette in the Nov. 8 election.

Once it was seated, the new board also was presented with an amended adequate public facilities town code and adequate public facilities development regulations, with a public hearing scheduled for the Dec. 19 town hall meeting. The code isn't a new ordinance, according to Small, but is a clarification of the existing code that expands definitions and removes some descriptions, among other changes.

The adequate public facilities development regulations ordinance changes minor things, too, including refining limits on developer required traffic improvements and clarifying guidelines for traffic analysis studies.

Both pieces of legislation may be viewed online at the town website http://www.belairmd.org.

Public comment

Michael Dilegge, a Bel Air resident, gave the board his qualifications and spoke about the laborer positions the town had been advertising in The Aegis.

Despite his background as a bricklayer, Dilegge told the town commissioners, he was never given an opportunity for an interview for the position for which he applied.

Dilegge also questioned if receiving a position with the town was about "who you know," as opposed to what you know.

Hopkins assured Dilegge that his comments were on the record for Director of Administration Joyce Oliver and Town Administrator Chris Schlehr, who could follow up with him.

Gregory Adolph, who also ran for commissioner but finished fourth in the voting, congratulated Hopkins, Reier and Burdette on their win and thanked the citizens who supported him.

Other business

The board recognized Samuel Jackson, an eighth-grader at Bel Air Middle School.

Members also approved liaison assignments for the new board.

Reier will serve as liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission and Rockfield Foundation Board.

Hopkins will serve as liaison for administration and finance, the events committee, fire protection, law enforcement, traffic and parking, voter registration and elections and as liaison to the county and state governments.

Preston will serve as liaison to the Board of Appeals and Appearance and Beautification Committee.

Burdette will serve as liaison to the Downtown Alliance, Cultural Arts Commission, Planning Commission and Tree Committee.

Carey will serve as liaison to the Economic and Community Development Commission, Parks and Recreation and Public Works.

The next Bel Air town meeting will be Monday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. in town hall at 39 N. Hickory Ave.

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