Afternoon sessions to discuss and debate legislation has been a longtime tradition in the Baltimore County Council.

But some activists and even council members say it might be time to move the meetings to the evening.

Currently, council bills are introduced during the seven-member council's voting sessions and typically receive a hearing a month later during Tuesday afternoon work sessions.

A vote is then held six days later at an evening meeting -- typically with little dissent or debate. Passage of bills is often unanimous.

Donna Spicer, a longtime community activist from the Loch Raven area, said moving the work session meetings would make it easier for the public to participate and make county government more transparent.

"That's where the action happens," Spicer said. "That's where the real information is."

Spicer wants the council's voting session -- which is held at night -- to instead be done during the day. Then, she said, the work session could be at night when the average citizen can go.

She added that by the time the council votes on a bill, "It's a done deal. Why do I need to go?" Some on the council say they would be willing to look at a change. Others said they would oppose such a change.

Kevin Kamenetz, a four-term Democrat councilman, said he opposes moving work sessions to the evening. The afternoon meetings, while open to the public, are really for council members to educate themselves on issues, he said.

"It's not for the public but for the officials," said Kamenetz. "We're not there to put on a performance for the public."

Kamenetz added that the County Charter does not require the separate work sessions, and he believes there is a benefit to having the meetings in the afternoon.

"To have a meeting in the afternoon, when I'm fresher and alert and have access to the county employees there who could answer my questions, is of paramount importance," Kamenetz said.

Changing to night meetings could be costly because of overtime issues, he said.

Kamenetz, an advocate of flexible work schedules for county employees, said moving the meeting to evenings could mean some county employees are not available to do their jobs during regular business hours.

Council Chairman Joesph Bartenfelder said he's not sure overtime is an issue since many county employees who come to speak on bills are department heads who are salaried. Those same employees attend the night-time voting sessions to be available should the council have additional questons.

"Salary and overtime never enter into it in my mind," Bartenfelder said. "Something could be worked out whether it be comp time or flex time or whatever."

Bartenfelder said he has supported moving work sessions to the evenings.

"I've always liked the idea," he said. "It would let anyone who has a job, whether it is a council person or member of the general public, attend."

The council has, in the past, made changes in how it runs work sessions. In 1996, the council began allowing outside testimony from community and business leader on bills.

In 2007, the council, responding to criticism from community activists, began making a concerted effort to introduce and discuss potential amendments to bills during work sessions. Prior to that, amendments were often first seen by the public just before a vote on a bill. Activists said that made it difficult to determine the effect of an amendment or offer comment before a vote.

In recent months, the council has made changes to its work session schedule by bumping the previous 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The change was made in order to allow Councilman Vince Gardina, who teaches at an area private school, to attend meetings.

Since the move, Gardina has missed or arrived late to a small number of meetings.

Councilman Sam Moxley has missed several work sessions this year because of work obligations.

Moxley said he frequently uses vacation time to make the meetings two Tuesdays a month, with the exception of June, July and August, when the council meets just once a month.

Moxley said he would be interested in at least looking at moving work sessions to the evening. Changing the schedule could make it easier for council members to meet their own work obligations while allowing greater access to the public, Moxley said.

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user comments (2)

user davidmarks1 says...

As someone who works in Washington, DC, it is impossible for me to make the work sessions where the bulk of County Council legislating occurs. Moving the time makes these work sessions far more accessible to the public. The county should also examine the feasibility of holding hearings for major development projects at night so that citizens do not have to take off work.

Posted 5:25 PM, 07.01.09

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user onewhocares says...

Councilman Kamenetz says he is "fresher and alert" in the afternoons. Does this mean he isn't alert during the voting sessions held at night? If so, we better watch out! Councilman Kamenetz might be joining Councilman Oliver in cat naps.

Posted 9:26 PM, 07.01.09

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