"The problems that we currently have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them." ............ Albert Einstein

Who:          All residents of Finksburg and its environs are invited

What:         To attend the Finksburg Planning Area Council general membership meeting

When:       Thursday, October 23^rdat 7 p.m.

Where:      Sandy Mount United Methodist Church

  

Citizens' Survey Released:

FPAC, Inc. Treasurer  Martin Schmidt will be presenting a report on the Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc.'s citizen survey at the next general membership meeting.  The survey was distributed in June to residents and the results are very interesting. Thanks to those who completed the survey.  Martin has done a fantastic job in compiling the results and big kudos go out to him for his effort.  The results will be given to the County Commissioners . 

Highway Improvements:

There has been some discussion regarding road improvements throughout the county and some do concern Finksburg.  We have invited a representative from the State Highway Administration to attend out October meeting to provide an update on any proposed changes for state roads in the Finksburg area.

Scorecard Work Begins:

The Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. will be issuing a County Commissioners ' scorecard later this year. The commissioners will be graded on a number of topics such as the water shed management, schools, planning/managed growth, and county roads. At the next general membership meeting, members will be given a report sheet to use to rate the current Board. The last scorecard was presented in March 2002.

Finksburg Development Approved:

A 14-home subdivision near Finksburg will move ahead despite the growth freeze in the county. The County Commissioners approved an exemption October 7^th for Debra Cooper, owner of the26-acre property along Route 32 and Deer Park Road . Cooper requested an exemption from the one-year moratorium because she needed income from the property to care for her ailing grandmother. The commissioners gave another exemption to the owner of a Woodbine property. There are at least two lawsuits pending against the county for the growth freeze it instituted earlier this year.

Growth Task Force Update:

We want to thank FPAC Vice President John Lopez, a member of the GTF, who attended the 10/15 GTF meeting, for his update this month.  Here's a brief recap:  

Ø       The members of the GTF will have to register with the new County Ethics disclosure regulations after 1/1/04

 

Ø       GTF will recommend to the County Commissioners that they accept the Carroll County Board of education recommendations for adequate standards re: capacity for schools.

Ø       The Planning Dept. will be drafting a revised guideline for the purposes of granting concurrency management permits. They should be predictable and with adequate room for review by the Planning Dept., the Planning Director, the Planning & Zoning Board, as well as public input.

 

Ø       GTF is recommending that all segments of the county be counted in the tests for adequacy (Municipalities as well as County including any off-conveyances). Without total cooperation this process will fail.

 

Ø       The Emergency Services Sub-committee will present their report at the next meeting on Nov. 19, 2003 at 1:30pm .

 

The GTF also reportedly voted, unanimously to recommend that a new process be put in place for approval of all subdivision plans that would allow the Planning and Zoning Commission to review plans twice, and to determine at both stages whether adequate facilities exist. Plans would only be able to proceed if facilities are adequate.

Under current rules, the Planning and Zoning Commission only reviews plans once, and does not have any input into the adequate facilities question. The details of the process will be laid out by staff and presented to the Task Force at the December or January meeting for final review.

Gerstell Academy Update:

FPAC has heard that the Carroll County Department of Economic Development is promoting use of the Todd Village trailer park property for Dr. Fred Smith, President of Gerstell Academy as a business park. There are other rumors that Dr. Smith may be trying to get State MDE approval for a private water and wastewater system for the property. FPAC has invited Dr. Smith to attend one of our meetings but his schedule has prevented him from being there. The only person willing to speak is a trailer park resident who has denied these rumors."

New Business Opens:

We want to welcome another new business to Finksburg.  The Finksburg Pharmacy opened several weeks ago at the Tower shopping center at Route 140 and Suffolk Road .  We want to wish the folks there good luck and urge everyone to try and shop there.

Trash Pickup Fast Approaching:

Don't forget the next trash pickup in Finksburg is Saturday, October 25^th. We will meet at 8 a.m. outside the Roy Rogers at the Finksburg Plaza . Please make an effort to come out and keep Finksburg clean.

Big Thank You:

The FPAC Board of Directors wants to thank everyone who came out to our September meeting. The meeting touched on an important health issue facing the community.  A good turnout resulted and some great information was presented from state, local and business officials. We intend to keep you updated on the water pollution situation so please attend our monthly meetings.  Again thanks for attending.

Web site:

Have you been to the new Finksburg web site?  If not it's at www.finksburg.org

 

                             Board of Directors:

 

President - Debbie Ridgely                                Board members At-Large

Vice President - John Lopez                                   Richard Ackerman

Secretary - Maureen Ackerman                               Mike Davis

Treasurer - Martin Schmidt                                     Doris Edward

Communications Director - Mat Tiahrt                     Donald Hoffman

 

You can reach any of these board members by going to the finksburg.org web site.

 

Be informed!  Attend the Next Meeting!

10/23    -   General membership meeting

11/06    -   FPAC Board of Directors Meeting

11/20*  -   General membership meeting

12/18*  -   General Membership meeting

* These General Membership Meeting dates are not being held on our usual "4^th Thursday of the Month" schedule due to their proximity to holidays. Please make a note!

Miscellaneous Information:

If there is a neighbor or a business you regularly trade with, ask them if they would like the newsletter sent to them electronically.  Send us their address so they are included in future mailings.

Save a Stamp: Receive your newsletter electronically. Send your e-mail address to Richard Ackerman at: richard.ackerman@finksburg.org

Mark Your Calendar: General Council meetings are the 4^th Thursday of the month at the Sandy Mount United Methodist Church . Meetings begin at 7 PM. Board meetings are usually held on the 1st Wednesday of each month. 

 

Yearly Membership Fee: $10 per Household, $25 per business

 

Dues: If you haven't paid your dues for 2003 please do so. The organization uses money from dues to pay for the printing and mailing costs of this newsletter and other mailings.

______    I would like to join the Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. a not-for-profit organization.

______   I would like to renew my membership. (Dues and donations not tax deductible)

______    Yes, I would also like to volunteer. (Board membership, roadside trash pickup, county meeting attendance, etc.)

______   I would like to make an additional donation of $______________ to the FPAC.

 

Name ________________________________________

 

Address ______________________________________

 

City ______________________ Zip Code ___________

 

Home Phone _________________________________

 

Work phone __________________________________ 

 

E-mail Address _______________ @ _____________

 

 

Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc.

P. O. Box 70

Finksburg , Maryland   21048