Opponents of changes proposed to Harford County's Livability Code won at least a temporary victory Tuesday, when the bill was withdrawn just before the county council was scheduled to hold a public hearing public hearing on it.
The withdrawal of the bill was announced as a small group of protesters picketed outside the county council's chamber in Bel Air to amplify their opposition to the legislation prior to the hearing.
About 30 protesters, including members of the TEA Party movement, Harford Campaign for Liberty and assorted rental property owners held signs and waved at motorists on the sidewalk outside the Black Box building where the council recently returned to holding its meetings.
During the protest, Councilman Dick Slutzky came by to pass out flyers announcing that Bill 12-02 would be pulled by the sponsor, Councilman Dion Guthrie, because of pending legislation in the Maryland General Assembly regarding lead poisoning and balcony inspections in building codes, as well as concerns for impending changes in the International Property Maintenance Code expected in November.
The proposed changes to the Livability Code included requiring rental property owners pay $20 every two years to register with the county and allowing the county's housing director more oversight of rental properties.
Other changes considered included imposing fines for failing to register and for violations of the housing code found in rental units.
Though the flyer said the public hearing was still scheduled to continue, when it convened at 6:30 p.m., Council President Billy Boniface told the packed council chamber the hearing was canceled because the bill was being pulled.
Guthrie then thanked his colleagues for meaningful input and all those who came out, regardless of the side they were on.
He said several bills coming up in Annapolis "make this particular bill look like a piece of cake."
He especially mentioned House Bill 644, which he said orders lead abatement in any residential property, doubles annual fees landlords must pay and has "huge fiscal notes" he said will affect every landlord in Harford County.
The other bill he mentioned was Senate Bill 196, regarding balcony inspections.
"In the interim, we'll be pulling this bill," Guthrie said of the county legislation."These [state] bills are a problem for our county if they pass."
He said the state bills' financial impact would be greater than his in Harford, because those bills are poorly drafted.
After Guthrie spoke, opponents of his Livability Code changes seemed to be steeling themselves for another fight.
Patrick McGrady, an organizer of Tuesday's protest, told the crowd to stay in touch with him, as he vowed to continue the fight to protect private property rights.
Tuesday's protest outside the council chamber was peaceful. Despite Guthrie's claims last week that Boniface had received threats because of the legislation, Boniface said Friday that was not true and that he had received meaningful dialogue from people on both sides of the issue.
Two protesters said the Livability Code was another example of too much government involvement in people's lives.
"It's that huge arm of government stretching out," Sylvia DeLong, of Bel Air, said. She was holding a sign that read "Hands Off My Property Rights," although she said she personally does not own any rental property.
"It's going to hurt poor people that can't afford high rent prices," DeLong said, adding the legislation would also give the county's housing director too much control.
"A lot of people can't afford it," she said.
Debbi Rayner, of Forest Hill, said she has three rental properties in the county and already has to pay $300 each year for various government related charges.
"We don't need any more interference with our lives," she said. "It's just another way to get more money."
Raynor was also not impressed by Guthrie's proposal that landlords who do nothing wrong be exempt from paying the registration fee for two years.
"I guess I am tired of the government treating me like an irresponsible person and renting something that was not legal," Raynor said. "Just get out of my life."
"There's only so much people can afford," she continued. "They are treating us as if we are not responsible citizens, as if we are children and we need to be praised for being good."