FAQs • Harford County, MD • CivicEngage

Are there any other ways I can participate in the legislative process, such as advisory boards or commissions?: Yes. The Council has several boards and commissions that carry out various functions. They include the HarfordTV Advisory Board, the Budget Advisory Board, and the People's Counsel Citizen's Advisory Board.

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1. How can I find out what federal, state or county legislative district I am in and the name of my legislators?: CLICK HERE to find your Federal, State or County Representative. You can also contact the Harford County Board of Elections at 410-638-3565.

2. How can I contact my representative to the Harford County Council?: Visit the County Council Page.

3. When and where does the County Council meet?: The Council meets on the 1st three Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. (in May the Council meets on every Tuesday). Meetings are held in the Council Chambers, 212 South Bond Street, 1st Floor, Bel Air. Although the meetings begin at 7:30 p.m., the Council frequently holds public hearings on legislation and other matters before the meetings and these hearings can begin as early as 6 p.m.

4. How can I get on the agenda to address the Council about a particular subject?: Citizens who wish to testify in-person during the Legislative Session Agenda item, Comments from Attending Citizens, can preregister by emailing council@harfordcountycouncil.com or calling 410-638-3343 by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday of the scheduled meeting. Citizens may also register in person at the meeting until the close of agenda item 14. New Business. Citizens may also go to the Council website for further information.

5. How can I find out ahead of time what will be on the Council's agenda for a particular meeting?: The Council's agenda is finalized at 2 p.m. on the Friday before each meeting. The agenda is made available from this website, you may call the Council office at 410-638-3343, or stop by during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) in order to obtain the agenda. You may also obtain the agenda from the HarfordTV, which shows the agenda regularly on cable television. HarfordTV appears on Channel 3 for Comcast subscribers and on Channel 7 for Armstrong subscribers.
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6. Are there any other ways I can participate in the legislative process, such as advisory boards or commissions?: Yes. The Council has several boards and commissions that carry out various functions. They include the HarfordTV Advisory Board, the Budget Advisory Board, and the People's Counsel Citizen's Advisory Board.

7. What does the budget advisory board do?: The board consists of 7 citizens named by the Council to advise the Council during its deliberations on the annual county budget. Generally the Council names members who have knowledge and expertise in finance and accounting. Almost all of the board's work takes place in April when the Council holds budget work sessions during the day in the Council Chambers.

8. What does the HarfordTV Advisory Board do?: The board consists of 15 members appointed by the Council, including 7 citizen members. The board is the policy-making body for HarfordTV, which is the local government and public access cable television channel. The board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month, usually at 8:45 a.m. at the County Council conference room.

9. What does the People's Counsel Citizen's Advisory Board do?: The Board consists of 7 citizens appointed by the Council. The main purpose of the Board is to review applications for rezoning, special exceptions, variances and other types of zoning requests to determine whether it is in the interest of the public for the People's Counsel to oppose the applications. The People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board meets the 4th Tuesday of each month (except December), at 6:30 p.m. in the County Council Chamber, 212 South Bond Street, Bel Air, MD.

10. Where can I get information or assistance if I am concerned about a zoning case?: You can get information about a zoning case by calling the Zoning Hearing Assistant, Dottie Smith, at 410-638-3349 or email your inquiry to dsmith@harfordcountycouncil.com. Although the People's Counsel does not represent individual citizens in zoning cases, in some situations the People's Counsel can be a source of information and advice concerning zoning cases. The People's Counsel is an attorney who is paid by the County Council to represent the interest of the public at large in zoning matters, and often appears in opposition to applications' requests in zoning cases. Brian Young serves as People's Counsel. He may be reached at brianyoung@harfordlaw.com or 443-987-6250.

11. Why can't I discuss zoning cases with my Council representative?: The County Council functions in many roles. One role is as the legislative branch of government and when sitting as the legislative branch the Council members may discuss legislative issues with constituents. However, when the Council sits as the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Council members are functioning as a quasi-judicial board whose duty is to interpret the zoning law. In interpreting the zoning law, the Board may only consider the law and facts which are included in the record of the case. If a Council member has outside knowledge of a zoning case, the member may be obligated to refuse to participate in that zoning case. Also, the Harford County Charter, 706(b), prohibits an individual from influencing or attempting to influence, directly or indirectly, a member of the Board of Appeals in arriving at a decision in any pending zoning case.

12. Do I have a legal right to receive cable television service?: You do not have an absolute right to receive cable service. The County Council has awarded franchises to 3 cable companies to operate in the county. Under these agreements the companies are required to provide cable service to a citizen if both of the following conditions are met: the citizen must reside in an area where there are at least 30 homes per linear mile; and the citizen's home must be located within 300 feet of an existing trunk line maintained by the cable company.

13. Who do I contact with question regarding the cable franchise agreement?: Contact Charles Kearney, Council Attorney, at 410-638-3343 or ckearney@harfordcountycouncil.com.

14. When a cable company installs a cable line in an easement that is on my property, is the company obligated to restore my property to the condition it was in prior to the installation?: The franchise agreement requires that the cable companies restore all privately-owned premises to a condition comparable to the condition immediately prior to the disturbance if damaged by the Company's employees or agents in connection with the installation, repair, or disconnection of cable service.

15. Does the County Council regulate the prices charged by the cable companies for cable service?: No. The federal government (The Federal Communications Commission) establishes the guidelines by which cable companies may set their prices.

16. Are answers to questions related to the cable franchise agreement the same if I live in Aberdeen, Bel Air or Havre de Grace, or at Aberdeen proving ground?: Not necessarily. Aberdeen, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Bel Air, and Havre de Grace all have separate franchise agreements with Comcast. If you live in one of these places, you should check with officials there. The telephone numbers are: City of Aberdeen 410-272-2222 Town of Bel Air 410-638-4550 City of Havre de Grace 410-939-1800 Aberdeen Proving Ground 410-278-5201

17. Does Harford County have a noise ordinance?: Yes. The ordinance is only applicable between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The ordinance applies to noise that is produced vocally with any radio receiving set, phonograph, musical instrument, household tool or equipment or any device intended for the production or reproduction of sound. If noise emanating from one of the previous mentioned devices is audible between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on property used for residential purposes and located more than 50 feet from the source of the sound, there is a violation of the law. There are several exemptions to this ordinance -- emergency equipment, agricultural operations and the operation of a business to name a few.

18. Does the county have a law regarding the height of grass?: Yes. The County law only applies to property located within a residential subdivision. A property owner is prohibited from allowing the grass to exceed the height of 12 inches. There are exceptions to this law. For instance, property devoted to an agricultural use is exempt, property identified as reforestation or forest retention area is exempt and there are other exemptions. If an individual believes the vegetation control law is being violated, the individual should report the violation to the Zoning Enforcement Division of Planning and Zoning at 410-638-3103.

19. Does the County have a law that requires property owners to remove the snow on the sidewalks in front of their homes?: There is no County law that requires citizens to remove snow that accumulates on the sidewalks in front of their homes. If you reside within the town limits of Bel Air, Aberdeen, or Havre de Grace, it is advised that you check with the town officials.

20. Is there any law regarding tree limbs or leaves that extend from one property over to another property?: There is no County law that requires property owners to keep the limbs of trees planted on their property or leaves from the trees on their property from encroaching on adjoining property.

21. Is there any law that governs the operations of Homeowners' Associations?: Yes. While the county does not have such a law, the state does. The state law can be found in the Real Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. There is also a law governing condominium owners' associations and it is also in the Real Property Article.

22. What is the County transfer tax and are there any exemption?

The County imposes a 1% transfer tax on an instrument of writing which conveys title to or a leasehold interest in real property. The tax is not imposed on the transfer of a mortgage or any other instrument that places an encumbrance on real property. Under the law, the first $30,000 of consideration are exempt from the 1% tax as long as the real property is residential improved property that is to be owner-occupied.

For more information, call the Department of Treasury at 410-638-3315.

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