North Brook Community

I have worked in public schools where some of the population lived in “affordable housing projects.”

On a typical school day a handful of students would come to school crying or full or rage because of the things they have to wake up to on a daily basis in their neighborhoods: gunfire, prostitution, physical altercations and drugs deals. Can you imagine being raised in a neighborhood where one of these terrible events occur at least once a week? I can’t and I don’t think any child deserves to either.

As a community we have a responsibility to put our foot down and say this is not an acceptable way to allow our children to be raised. But this is the reality of many children every day in “affordable housing projects.” Yes, I am a proponent of everyone having an affordable place to live but not 59 “low income families in a concentrated area. This strategy doesn’t work. A short 27 miles away in Annapolis is living proof of failing “lower-income communities”: Robin Wood, Newtowne, and Eastport Terrace to mention a few.

If a developer is acting in a socially responsible capacity and genuinely wanted to give back to a community and its lower income families then an approach that is sustainable and beneficial to help them to become productive members of society should be researched and implemented.

Don’t hide behind politics and play bureaucratic games and build a complex of rental units. Build a series of single-family homes that can be purchased for reduced prices throughout good neighborhoods allowing good morals and values to be instilled in the children.

Personally, I love our county’s schools and that is one of the reasons my family lives here. Research shows that in 2010 the middle schools within the areas of the other Osprey Communities were not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in reading and mathematics.

This should be compared with Centreville Middle School, which met every aspect of AYP in 2010. I feel we are setting families and children up for failure if we continue to build complexes such as Riverwoods anywhere, especially Centreville. It is a terrible approach and not justification for helping people.

Joe Rose
Centreville

WHO: Local citizens have organized a public forum to discuss the proposed low income housing projects adjacent to the central historical and residential areas of Centreville. All town residents and interested parties who have a stake in the future of Centreville are invited to attend this meeting.

WHAT: This is a public forum organized by local citizens who are concerned about the proposed housing developments on Spring Street and behind the Acme shopping center in Centreville.

WHEN: Monday, April 25, 20117:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Queen Anne’s County Arts Council Building206 South Commerce StreetCentreville, Maryland 21617

WHY: Recent articles in the Queen Anne’s County Record-Observer newspaper, minutes of the Centreville Town Council, and other organization’s web postings, have created the need to discuss this issue and its implications on the town and its residents. This public forum will provide an opportunity for town residents to make their opinions known; have questions answered by developers and public officials who have indicated their support of these projects; and for all to learn of how similar developments are currently positioned in other Eastern Shore jurisdictions.

CONTACT: Greg Kavanagh, 703-624-0840; or Dan Worth, 410-490-3510Seating is limited. Parking suggested in town parking lots as parking on Commerce Street is regulated and very limited.

George Sigler was elected to the Town Council today, pending certification of election results. A total of 401 votes were cast at the polls with an additional 19 absentee votes and one provisional ballot. 225 went to Mr. Sigler, and 195 went to Mr. Robert A. Elliott.The Council will hold its reorganizational meeting at 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, April 14, 2011, at which time the election results will be accepted and the new Council Member seated. The meeting will be held at the Liberty Building, 107 Liberty Street, in the second floor meeting room. Enter the building from the parking lot on Broadway. The public is welcome and invited to attend.

Audio clips from the League of Women Voters forum last week are available here:

http://wordpress.centreville-md.net/?p=3272

The two candidates for the Centreville Town Council, Bob Elliott and George “Smokey” Sigler, will participate in a pre-election forum Thursday evening, March 24 at 7 p.m. at the Board of Education Building on Chesterfield Avenue in Centreville. The forum, which is free and open to all, is sponsored by the Queen Anne’s County League of Women Voters. The candidates will have the opportunity to tell about themselves and then answer questions posed by the League and questions from the audience.

Town Council terms are for three years. Neither candidate is an incumbent. The election will be held Monday, April 4.

The League of Women Voters gives a number of questions to the candidates in advance of the forum so that the candidates would have an opportunity to consider their answers carefully. These questions concern taxes, issues involving the YMCA/County Complex, accountability, plans for the Centreville central business district, and communication. Both candidates will be given the opportunity to answer these questions. The floor will then be open to the audience members to ask their questions of the candidates.

The League requests that there be no campaign literature or paraphernalia inside the building.

The Queen Anne’s County League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization whose membership is open to all citizens, women and men, of voting age. Its mission is to encourage the informed participation of voters in the democratic process.

Citizens for Greater Centreville

http://wordpress.centreville-md.net

The Town Council of Centreville proposes to increase real property taxes.
1. For the tax year beginning July 1, 2009 the estimated real property assessable base will increase by 10.3 %; from $491,683,066 to $542,292.,328.
2. If the Town of Centreville maintains the current tax rate of $0.395 per $100 of assessment, real property tax revenues will increase by 10.3% resulting in $199,907 of hew real property tax revenues.
3. In order to fully offset the effect of increasing assessment,s, the real property tax rate should be reduced to $0.358, the constant yield tax rate.
4. The Town is considering not reducing its real property tax rate enough to fully offset increasing assessments. The Town proposes to adopt a real property tax rate of $0.395 per $100 of assessment. This tax rate is 10.3% higher than the constant yield tax rate and will generate $199,907 additional property tax revenues.

A public hearing on the proposed real property tax rate increase will be held at 6:30 p.m. on June 4, 2009 at the Goodwill Fire Department, 212 Broadway, Centreville, MD 21617.

The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged.
Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 410-758-1180 for further information.

The Town Council of Centreville is accepting applications or expressions of interest for service to fill current vacancies on the Planning Commission, the Park Advisory Board, and the Citizens Review Board.  There are also vacancies due to the expiration of terms.  For a complete list click on “Who’s Who” then “Boards and Commissions” on the Town’s Website.  For information on how to apply to be considered for appointment by the Town Council, please email or call Town Hall.

North Brook especially is underrepresented on the Town’s various boards and commissions.

Please use this category for all discussions related to:  North Brook and/or Town Politics