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 .

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 , 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."