Redistricting Commission to Hold First Meeting

Baltimore County's newly appointed commission to redraw the borders of the County Council's seven districts is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Wednesday.

Thomas Peddicord, the County Council's attorney and secretary, said he will meet with the five-member commission to explain the county's redistricting law and to schedule required public hearings.

"I told them to bring their calendars," Peddicord said.

The commission will meet at 5 p.m. in the council's conference room on the second floor of the Old Courthouse.

The meeting is expected to last about an hour. No public comment will be taken.

The council last week naming Ed Crizer, Jim Gillis, Robert Latshaw, Anne Neal and Ralph Wright to the commission.

Crizer, who serves on the county's board of appeals and was named to the redistricting commission by council Chairman John Olszewski Sr., will serve as the commission's chairman.

According to the county's charter, the redistricting commission is required to be appointed by March 1 following the completion of the U.S. Census.

The commission, which was created by law and added to the charter in 2002, is responsible for holding at least three public hearings on redistricting. The commission will make recommendations on how the districts should be drawn but may not increase or decrease the number of council districts.

The County Council is required to hold at least one public hearing on the recommendation of the committee and must adopt a final plan no later than Jan. 31, 2012.