Thursday, May 9, 2013
Two former firefighters and a police officer could return to light duty as a result of the agreement.
Baltimore County officials said Thursday that they have settled three disability lawsuits with two firefighters and a police officer. "These settlements honor these employees for their past service while also ensuring that firefighters and police officers who serve the residents of Baltimore County are working in jobs that match their physical abilities for the safety of all," wrote Baltimore County Attorney Michael Field in a statement on the county's blog Thursday. "Residents of Baltimore County demand no less than this." As part of the settlement, the county does not admit any liability. In September, firefighters Donald Becker and Stanley Kuklinski and police Lt. Michael Lauenstein field lawsuits seeking $2.3 million in damages and …
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Crews will install new sidewalks along what the library's branch manager called a "twisty, windy, country road."
Last week, Baltimore County officials announced plans to build a new sidewalk on Sulphur Spring Road between the Arbutus Library and Shelbourne Road. The Arbutus Times reports library staffers and patrons are thrilled and relieved for the idea. "Ever since we opened, people have been asking about sidewalks," branch manager Ross told the paper, calling the quarter-mile stretch a "twisty, windy, country road." "I see people walking on [the road] all the time," an unidentified Arbutus resident told the paper. "It's terrible really, and the road is very curvy." The project will cost the county $300,000 and take about six weeks to complete, officials said last week.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Information session about jobs available will be held Feb. 28 at CCBC Essex.
SKW Constructors has announced it will hire as many as 100 direct employees at its Sparrows Point Shipyard and Industrial Park site. The company will also hire subcontractors that will hire additional carpenters, concrete finishers, mechanics, ironworkers, surveyors, truck drivers and laborers. The company has a contract to provide fans and huge reinforced concrete tubes for tunnels being built in Hampton Roads, VA, according to a statement from Baltimore County Government. "We are thrilled SKW is bringing jobs back to the Point," Baltimore County Councilman John Olszewski Sr said in the statement. "We will continue to work with the company to be sure our local workers and contractors benefit from this opportunity." SKW Constructors, a …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Trash and recycling pick-up will continue as scheduled on Monday.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 21 is a federal holiday, and most county offices will be closed for the day. Here's a rundown of what you need to know for next week. Schools: closed State and local government offices: closed Courts: closed Libraries: closed Health department clinics: closed Senior centers: closed CountyRide: Not in operation MTA: Holiday schedule, except for special inauguration day service on the MARC Penn and Brunswick lines. Trash and recycling: Normal pick-up schedule. Trash and recycling drop-off sites will be open. If you happen to be traveling to the Washington, D.C. area Monday morning and afternoon, watch for traffic for President Barack Obama's second inauguration.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Nominations will be accepted through Jan. 11, with awards to be presented in March.
Baltimore County's Commission for Women is looking for its next Woman of the Year and Young Woman of the Year. The 31st annual awards will honor women who make "significant, unique and lasting contributions to the community, workplace, or school to further the interest of women and families," a county press release said. Last year's Woman of the Year award went to Irene Spatafore of Dundalk. The Young Woman of the Year was Parkton resident Olivia Keithley. Nominations for 2013 can be made on the county's website. For nomination forms or questions, call Nancy Surosky at 410-887-3448. Previous winners and elected officials are not eligible for the award. Nominees must be Baltimore County residents. Young Woman of the Year nominees must be …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
A federal judge grants the county permission to seek an appeal while the damages phase of the trial continues.
Baltimore County will appeal a federal judge's ruling in October that found pension rules that charge some county employees different rates are discriminatory. At issue is an October ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Benson Everett Legg that found that the county's pension rules requiring different contribution rates from employees based on age violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. That ruling came after a federal appeals court overturned Legg's original ruling that was in favor of the county. The county asked Legg for permission to seek an appeal on his current ruling while the trial enters the damages phase. The county argued in a filing that it would need as long as two years to review as many as 10,000 pension …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The county executive once ordered a study of alternative work week schedules in 2008.
Some county employees could work from the comfort of their own homes as soon as January under a new policy announced Tuesday by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. "Telecommuting is a proven tactic that enables employers to reduce their carbon footprint by using readily available technology to cut down on employees' unnecessary travel to the workplace," Kamenetz said in a statement. Beginning next month, all non-probationary employees can request to participate in the program.The county will approve those requests on a case-by-case basis based on which jobs can be adapted to working from home, according to the release. Employees who wish to work from home must have telephone and Internet access. Those employees approved to work from home will…
Monday, December 3, 2012
Three major Wall Street companies give Baltimore County a Triple-A rating.
Baltimore County continues to maintain its coveted triple Triple-A bond rating companies. Fitch, Moody's and Standard and Poor's all gave the county its highest rating. Only about 1 percent of the counties in the United States have a Triple-A rating from all three companies. [All three reports are attached to this story.] The rating means the county can borrow money at the lowest available interest rates, which saves taxpayers money. All three companies cited the county's fiscal management and budget practices as reasons for the continued ratings. "If we are going to continue to fund public safety, education, and rebuild our aging infrastructure, we must continue to manage our budget in a fiscally responsible manner," County Executive …
Monday, November 19, 2012
Maryland Court of Appeals reverses lower court decision on a grievance filed over changes to health insurance costs.
As many as 400 retired police department employees could see a reduction in their health insurance costs and be due a refund for charges since 2007. A state Court of Appeals ruling Monday effectively affirmed arbitration and a Baltimore County Circuit Court decision on the case that dates back to 2007. [A copy of the court rulling is attached to this article.] The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4, which represents county police officers, filed a grievance five years ago after the county increased the costs of health insurance for employees who retired between Feb. 1, 1992 and June 30, 2007. On July 1, 2007, the county changed its share of retiree health insurance costs from an 85-15 split with retirees to an 84-16 percentage. The union …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Union representing nearly 1,600 County employees agrees to increased pension contributions in return for guaranteed pay increases and no layoffs or furloughs for the next three years.
The union representing correctional workers, highway supervisors, 911 employees, and office workers has reached an agreement with the county. As part of the agreement, members of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees will receive regular step and longevity increases and a guarantee of no layoffs or furloughs through June 30, 2015 in return for increased pension contributions made by corrections officers. Currently, corrections officers contribute 8 percent of their salary to the county pension system. As part of the agreement, corrections officers hired after July 1, 2011 will contribute 10 percent. "I am very pleased that the County was once again able to reach an agreement with labor," said Baltimore County Executive Kevin …
Steve
12:18 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
You stalked this guy for more than a year??? He ought to get a restraining order. more ›