Friday, November 30, 2007
Local Officials To Discuss General Assembly Issues
The Garrett County commissioners will meet with Sen. George Edwards and Del. Wendell Beitzel on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m. at the courthouse to review legislative issues for the upcoming General Assembly session. Items to be discussed include youth access to tobacco products, agricultural districts, and gaming legislation.
Health officer Rodney Glotfelty and other Garrett County Health Department officials will ask the local lawmakers to support a bill that addresses specific items regarding youth access to tobacco.
The legislation would prohibit the distribution of certain tobacco products, cigarette rolling papers, and tobacco related coupons to minors in Garrett County. It would also increase penalties for those who sell tobacco products to minors.
Local officials will also ask Edwards and Beitzel to introduce legislation that will give the commissioners the authority to establish agricultural districts at the county level.
Local districts would not only enable property owners to benefit from a local tax credit program, but would also help them become more familiar with it before they sell easements to the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, according to county officials.
The county commissioners will also ask lawmakers to repeal local gaming legislation. The legislation was introduced and approved during a prior General Assembly that enables the commissioners to oversee gaming activities in the county, but the officials have now decided not to enact the gaming regulations.
The commissioners will not hold their regular weekly public meeting next Tuesday, Dec. 4. Their next scheduled public session is Tuesday, Dec. 11. The public, however, may attend the meeting with Edwards and Beitzel on Dec. 6.
The next General Assembly session will begin in Annapolis in January.
