Baltimore County Council Structure Workgroup
The Baltimore County Council Structure Workgroup was established on October 16, 2023 with the passage of Resolution 32-23. The County Council created this advisory body to conduct research and make recommendations on the size and structure of the Baltimore County Council and related matters.
DRAFT REPORT - PUBLISHED MARCH 8, 2024
PUBLIC INPUT
The Workgroup has created a dedicated email for the public to submit written testimony and provide written feedback. You may email the Workgroup at any time at councilworkgroup@baltimorecountymd.gov. Testimony and feedback will be disseminated to all Workgroup members within one working day after receipt.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Resolution 32-23 requires the Workgroup to hold at least one public hearing, however, the Workgroup held three public hearings.
Public Hearing #1 – Monday, January 22, 6:00 p.m. This public hearing was held virtually over WebEx.
Agenda. Presentation Documents. Minutes. Link to Video.
Public Hearing #2 - East-side Public Hearing - White Marsh Public Library – Thursday, March 14, 6:00 p.m. This public hearing was held in-person
Public Hearing #3 - West-side Public Hearing - Woodlawn Public Library – Wednesday, March 20, 6:00 p.m. This public hearing was held in-person
WORKGROUP MEETINGS
Resolution 32-23 requires the Workgroup to meet at least once per month, however the Workgroup may meet more often. Meetings will not be scheduled on any day there is a County Council legislative or work session. The Workgroup will try give as much advanced notice as possible for any weather-related changes to the dates, times, and locations of meetings.
November Meeting - Thursday, November 30, 5:00 p.m. This meeting was held virtually over WebEx.
Agenda. Presentation Documents. Minutes. Link to Video.
December Meeting - Monday, December 11, 5:30 p.m. This meeting was held in-person in the Council Chambers in Towson and live streamed via WebEx.
Agenda. Presentation Documents. Minutes. Link to Video.
December Meeting - Monday, December 28, 5:30 p.m. This meeting was held virtually over WebEx.
Agenda. Minutes. Link to Video.
January Meeting - Thursday, January 11, 5:30 p.m. This meeting was held in-person in the Council Chambers in Towson and live streamed via WebEx.
Agenda. Presentation Documents. Minutes. Link to Video.
January Meeting - Monday, January 29, 5:30 p.m. This meeting was held in-person in the Council Chambers in Towson and live streamed via WebEx.
Agenda. Presentation Documents. Minutes. Link to Video.
February Meeting - Monday, February 12, 5:30 p.m. This meeting was held in-person in the Council Chambers in Towson and live streamed via WebEx.
Agenda. Minutes. Link to Video.
February Meeting - Thursday, February 29, 5:30 p.m. This meeting was held in-person in the Council Chambers in Towson and live streamed via WebEx.
Agenda. Minutes. Link to Video.
March Meeting - Thursday, March 7, 6:00 p.m. This meeting was held "virtual only" via WebEx.
Agenda. Minutes. Link to Video.
FINAL MEETING - March Meeting - Monday, March 25, 5:30 p.m. This meeting was be held in-person in the Council Chambers in Towson and live streamed via WebEx.
Agenda. Minutes. Link to Video.
WORKGROUP RESEARCH
At the request of the Workgroup members, staff conducts research and presents its findings to the Workgroup. In addition to the presentation, staff prepare a packet of research materials for the Workgroup members to review.
Research Packet #1 - Circulated to the Workgroup on December 8, 2023 in advance of the December 11, 2023 meeting. Topics covered are: 1) Population and Demographics of Baltimore County; 2) Governance Structure, Roles, and Responsibilities.
Research Packet #2 - Circulated to the Workgroup on December 27, 2023 in advance of the December 28, 2023 meeting. Topics covered are: 1) County Council Structures and Budgets in Maryland; and 2) Local Legislative Branch Sizes Outside of Maryland.
Open Data – At the December 11, 2023 meeting, the Workgroup discussed Census Designated Places (CDPs). For more information on CDPs, please see the presentation documents for the December 11 meeting. As part of its Open Data Portal, the County publishes an interactive map of all CDPs in Baltimore County. You may access that interactive map here. https://opendata.baltimorecountymd.gov/datasets/BC-GIS::designated-places/explore?location=39.404110%2C-76.654677%2C11.91
Council Expansion Fiscal Impact Report – Presented to the Workgroup at the January 11, 2024 meeting, this report provides an estimated annual operating cost for a potential 9-member or 11-member Council. The report also gives an overview of the impact of any increased costs on the County’s General Fund. Last, the report breaks down the capital budget cost projections for office renovations needed due to an expansion of Council membership.
WORKGROUP RESPONSIBILITIES
Resolution 32-23 requires the Workgroup conduct research the composition of peer legislative bodies in the State of Maryland and nationwide and review demographic data and trends for Baltimore County and the State of Maryland. The Workgroup must also obtain data on the potential taxpayer costs associated with a potential increase in the number of Councilmembers. Last, the Workgroup may conduct research and make recommendations on any other relevant issues the Workgroup deems appropriate.
The workgroup must convene at least one public hearing and consider public input. A Report with analysis and recommendations must be submitted to the County Council by March 31, 2024.
WORKGROUP MEMBERSHIP
The Workgroup consists of 11 voting members; one County Executive appointee; one appointee from each County Councilmember; One representative appointed by the County Council from the Baltimore County Planning Board; one representative appointed by the County Council from an area college or university with expertise in political science or government; and one representative appointed by the County Council with expertise in demographics. Last, there are two ex-officio (non-voting) members, with one ex-officio member designated by the County Executive and one ex-officio member designated by the County Council to staff the Workgroup.
The Chair of the Workgroup, as selected by the County Council, is Tony Campbell. The Vice Chair of the Workgroup is Vicki Almond.
WORKGROUP ROSTER AND BIOGRAPHY
Laura Bacon - 1st Council District Representative
Ms. Bacon is a 16-year resident of Catonsville, where she has been active as a PTA member, assistant scout troop leader, and softball coach for Baltimore County Parks and Recreation programs. She is a former staffer for the Maryland House of Delegates and the Baltimore County Council, and currently works as an attorney at a national firm.
Sheila Lewis - 2nd Council District Representative
Ms. Lewis is a resident of Pikesville and is an educator and active community member in West Baltimore County. Ms. Lewis holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Baltimore and a Masters in Adult Education from the University of Phoenix. For over 20 years Ms. Lewis was an adjunct instructor of Adult Education and ESL at BCCC. Ms. Lewis also taught Adult Education at the Kennedy Krieger Institute for over a decade. Prior to her career in education, Ms. Lewis served as a Disability Insurance Program Analyst in the Social Security Administration. Ms. Lewis is also a tireless community activist. Currently, Ms. Lewis is a member of the Pikesville Revitalization Action Plan; Secretary of the Randallstown NAACP Branch; a member of the Baltimore County Police Trial Board; a Commissioner on the County’s Human Relations Commission; and President of the Villa Nova Community Association. Ms. Lewis has also previously served as Chief Election Judge for Baltimore County and as a member of the Northwest Gateway Sustainable Community Steering Committee.
Eric Rockel - 3rd Council District Representative
Mr. Rockel is a resident of Lutherville and spent the majority of his professional career in the Offices of Real Estate for Baltimore County government and the Maryland State Highway Administration. Now retired, he has volunteered many hours of service to NeighborSpace of Baltimore County, a non-profit seeking to promote the livability of existing communities inside the URDL by providing more open space, and to the Greater Timonium Community Council, an umbrella group of individual community associations in the Lutherville/Timonium/Cockeysville area. Along with Neal Brooks, PhD., Rockel co-authored A History of Baltimore County, which detailed the historical events that shaped the county from its founding in the 1650’s until the 1970’s. He enjoys reading about historical topics, listening to music, and watching sports.
Vicki Almond - 4th Council District Representative
Ms. Almond is a former Baltimore County Council member. She represented the 2nd District from 2010 until 2018. Prior to her service on the County Council, Ms. Almond was a passionate community activist, PTA mother, and leader of neighborhood associations.
John Cluster - 5th Council District Representative
Mr. Cluster served as a republican member of the House of Delegates representing District 8 – Baltimore County from July 29, 2003 to January 10, 2007, and again from January 12, 2011 until his resignation on July 31, 2016. During his tenure, Mr. Cluster served as a member of the Judiciary Committee and the Environmental Matters Committee. Mr. Cluster was also the Deputy Minority Whip from 2013 to 2014. Mr. Cluster, a Baltimore native, graduated from Catonsville High School in 1972, after which he attended Essex Community College. In 1975, Mr. Cluster joined the Baltimore County Police Depart as a Patrolman. Mr. Cluster left the Police Department in 1988 as a Sergeant. Mr. Cluster served as President of the Parkville Business and Professional Association from 2000 to 2003 and is a member of the Loch Raven Recreation Council and the Parkville Recreation Council.
Al Harris - 6th Council District Representative
Mr. Harris is a former educator, small business owner, and community activist. Mr. Harris taught for over 30 years in the Baltimore City Public Schools. After retiring from teaching, Mr. Harris has started several small businesses, including A&S Harris Enterprises and Dynamic Awakening of Massage Therapy and Esthetics, LLC. Mr. Harris was born and raised in Baltimore City. He is a Vietnam War veteran, where he served with the U.S. Marine Corp, rising to the rank of Sargent Major. Mr. Harris is also an active community and civic volunteer. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity. Currently, Mr. Harris is a member of the Holland Hill Community Improvement Association and a Police Community Relations Council Liaison.
Ed Kramer - 7th Council District Representative
Mr. Kramer has been a resident of the Hawthorne Community in Middle River for the last 37 years. He has also been a member of the Hawthorne Civic Association for over 30 years. Mr. Kramer has also been a member of the Essex Middle River Civic Council representing the Hawthorne Community for over 20 years. Mr. Kramer was appointed to the Middle River Round Table by Baltimore County Executives Kevin Kamenetz and Johnny Olszewski to work with communities, business leaders, and the Baltimore County departments of Planning and Economic Development to develop a plan for Route 43 for approval by the surrounding communities. Mr. Kramer graduated from Patterson High School in 1982. He has also completed the Dale Carnegie Training/ Professional Development course and the Karrass Negotiating Training course.
Keith Dorsey - County Executive Representative
Mr. Dorsey is a career civil servant, serving over 35 years in Baltimore County government. Mr. Dorsey was the County’s Director of the Office of Budget and Finance from 2007 until his retirement in 2019. Mr. Dorsey began his service in 1983 as a budget analyst and became Deputy Budget Director in 2005. In addition to managing the County’s finances, the Budget Director also oversees the 911 Communications Center, accounting, insurance administration, payroll, retirement, and other services within County government. Mr. Dorsey holds a B.A. in Economics from UMBC and a graduate degree in Business Administration and Finance from Morgan State University.
Emily Brophy - Planning Board Representative
Ms. Brophy is a commercial real estate developer and manager with over 15 years of commercial asset management experience, including mixed-use, retail, office, and ground-up development. Currently, Ms. Brophy is a principal at the firms Tan & Associates, Inc and Blue Vista Real Estate, LLC. She has previously worked for companies such as Brookfield and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield managing assets over a million square feet. Ms. Brophy graduated from the University of Maryland in 2002 with a Bachelor’s of Science, and currently holds a Certified Shopping Center Manager (CSM) designation through the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Ms. Brophy was appointed to the Planning Board in January, 2023 by the County Executive as an At-Large member.
Tony Campbell - Political Science or Government Expert from an Area College or University
Dr. Antonio (Tony) Campbell serves on the faculty in the Department of Political Science at Towson University teaching Political Theory and American National Government. Dr. Campbell holds a Doctor of Ministry and served in the United States Army as a Chaplain in the Maryland Army National Guard. Dr. Campbell is a member of the board of directors of the SEED School of Maryland, serves as the Vice Chairman of the Baltimore County School Board Nomination Commission, and served on the 2017 Baltimore County Charter Review Commission.
Jeff Mayhew - Demographics Expert
Mr. Mayhew served as the Deputy Director of the Baltimore County Planning Department from June, 2011 until January, 2019, when he was appointed by the County Executive as Acting Planning Director. Mr. Mayhew resumed his position as Deputy Director when the County Executive appointed Pete Gutwald as permanent Planning Director later in 2020. Mr. Mayhew retired in 2021, capping off a 31-year career with the Planning Department, where he served in numerous leadership roles, including another 6-month appointment in 2011 as Acting Planning Director before moving into the Deputy Director role. Prior to his service in Baltimore County government, Mr. Mayhew served in State government in MDOT from 1984 to 1988 and the State Railroad Administration from 1988 to 1990. Mr. Mayhew received a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore and a B.S. in Economics from the University of Delaware. He was awarded the designation of American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) in 2005.
Adam Phillips - Ex-Officio (non-voting) Member - County Council Designee
Mr. Phillips is currently the Assistant Legislative Counsel to the Baltimore County Council.
Brad Kroner - Ex-Officio (non-voting) Member - County Executive Designee
Mr. Kroner is currently a Legislative Officer in the Office of Government Affairs.
BACKGROUND
Baltimore County adopted a Charter form of Government in 1956, establishing a County Executive and a seven-member County Council. This came during the fastest period of population growth in the County’s history. The population grew from 270,273 in 1950 to 492,428 in 1960. As of the 2020 Census, the County’s population stands at 854,554, which translates into an average Council District population of 121,428 residents.
Revised April 5, 2024
