Hutchinson Gives Legislators An Earful
Donald Hutchinson, chairman of the Baltimore County Revenue Authority, meant to tell members of the county's House delegation that he was neutral on two more bills affecting his agency but his testimony sounded a little more like opposition.
"I don't give a rat's ass about these bills," said Hutchinson before launching into a brief tirade, some of which was directed at Del. Joseph Boteler.
Boteler, a Parkville Republican, is the sponsor of the two bills heard on Friday.
One bill would limit the amount of golf that can be played by board members during prime time hours. A second bill would require the county executive to appoint a vice chairman of the board.
Hutchinson said both bills would affect the same person—Merreen Kelly.
Kelly was appointed vice chairman of the board last year by Hutchinson. He's also played the most golf of any of the five board members though Hutchinson attributed most of the rounds to a group that Kelly helped moved to the Fox Hollow Golf Course.
Hutchinson said he remained neutral on the Boteler legislation but added that he thought the delegation had better things to do than "micromanage" the operations of the authority. He claimed Boteler filed the bills because the delegate was upset over the sale of the Lavender Avenue parking lot.
In recent months the authority has been the focus of stories about ethical missteps, problems with contracts and three other bills sponsored by Del. John Cluster.
The attention seemed to irritate Hutchinson, who said he was regretting serving in the volunteer position.
"I thought I was doing a friend a favor," Hutchinson said of being asked by then-County Executive Jim Smith before adding "I rue the day—rue the day."
johnny towson
5:17 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Mr. Kamenetz has a mess to clean up. Clearly Mr. Hutchinson did not sign up to get in the middle of an escalating school-yard slap fight between sissies. Let Mr. Hutchinson step down and focus on what he has passion to work on, clearly it is not the Rev. Authority. This County so badly needs a leader. The back-log of issues is becoming insurmountable. Perhaps they need to scale back on photo ops and ribbon ceremonies and pick 3 things a day to accomplish; wash behind their ears an brush their teeth before bed time too. Thank you Mr. Hutchinson for past and present service, you deserve better.
fred
8:37 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
the authority is better now than it has ever been, its the only thing in balto county that produces positive income. leave the members alone.
Buzz Beeler
8:54 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
fred, if that is the case, then why is BC facing a budget crisis, as one Del. told me, a doomsday scenario.
There isn't enough room in this little block to begin to describe the problems the county faces.
kevin
9:02 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The timing of the Lavender Ave parking lot was one of the most UNETHICAL actions a government agency could have done to any community. You know what you did was wrong and I wish it could be exposed to the community if it was EVERYONE from the one who called for the vote at that time and day and either voted for or abstained would be thrown out of office if not thrown in jail . Blagovich wouldn't have stooped as LOW as those involved .
Delegate Joseph Boteler
10:27 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I do give a rats ass about my community.
I want to make sure our tax money is used wisely.
Delegate Joe Boteler
W. Glenn
4:00 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
When I see a no-bid contract I assume that someone is getting payed back for polital support or contributions. In short...........This administration is beginning to stink and should be looked into more thoroughly.
William Lutostanski Jr
11:57 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Thanks Joe, Nobody should be playing golf for free!
Steve Kolbe
12:00 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
This arrogant and disrespectful behavior we see time and time again from Democrat strongmen like Hutchinson, Councilman Tom Quirk, and others only serves to highlight just how out of touch Baltimore County Democrats really are. The absolute power has corrupted them... absolutely.
M. Sullivan
2:15 pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
" The attention seemed to irritate Hutchinson, who said he was regretting serving in the volunteer position." Well then, maybe he should step down. He's just another lifelong MD Democrat politician who thinks taxpayer-funded entities are his own personal country club and has tolerance for public scrutiny into any potentially self-serving activities.
M. Sullivan
2:20 pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sorry, the above should read ......no tolerance for public scrutiny....