Petition Signed By 2K In Bel Air Rejected By Town Commissioners

BEL AIR, MD — For the second time in a month, a document signed by Bel Air residents who said they disagreed with a rezoning decision and wanted it reversed was rejected by the town.

On Tuesday night, the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners voted to deem it legally insufficient, since it was not properly labeled as a petition for referendum and did not reference the ordinance that triggered comprehensive rezoning for 13 properties in town.

Residents submitted the petition on June 10, after the commissioners determined on June 8 that it would accept a petition for referendum on the legislation until June 11, based on the town code.

The town code says a petition for referendum can be filed until 41 days after an ordinance passed.

On May 2, the town commissioners passed the ordinance allowing for rezoning of 13 properties.

More than 1,000 Bel Air residents signed a petition protesting the rezoning of seven properties on East Broadway and East Gordon Street, which they submitted May 23. Two days later, Bel Air's Board of Election Judges deemed the petition invalid since it did not say it was a petition nor did it contest the entire rezoning ordinance

"For the life of me," Commissioner Mary Chance said at Tuesday night's board meeting, she could not understand why "that wasn't corrected" since the rejection weeks before.

Another commissioner disagreed that those things were needed.

"Over 2,000 citizens have signed a petition requesting referendum," said Commissioner Paula Etting, who cast the lone nay vote against the rezoning ordinance when it occurred in May. She asked commissioners to join her in allowing the petition to proceed and be sent to the Harford County Board of Elections for verification of signatures to determine whether 20 percent of the town's voters had signed it, which would meet the threshold for putting the issue to referendum. The commissioners had already voted to reject the document and did not second her motion.

"There is no clear guidance in the town charter to voters on how to conduct a petition for referendum," Etting said. "There is no specific language required. There is no specific form required. I believe it’s clear from the petition what the [intent was]."

Related:

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