Delegation

In one of its few victories, if that's the word, some members of the Washington County legislative delegation helped derail an attempt to spread the cost of a new home for Hagerstown's Antietam Fire Co. among all Maryland taxpayers. So instead, if City Hall goes through with its current plans, we local taxpayers will be responsible for the cost all by ourselves. This has to be a proud moment for our delegation: They get to posture for the masses about how fiscally responsible they are, even though it actually increases our own local tax burden.

A delegation from Guangzhou City, China, toured Fahrney-Keedy Home & Village on Jan. 14, and discussed how senior-care services are delivered in the United States. Through an interpreter, six high-level Chinese government officials discussed a variety of topics, including quality of care, funding programs and allocation of resources. During the tour, the delegation met with staff and residents. John Brantley, associate dean of Workforce Development at Kaplan University, Hagerstown; Susan MacDonald, director of the Washington County Commission on Aging; and Dave Engle, director of social services for Washington County, coordinated the visit and accompanied the group.

On Tuesday, when Gov. Martin O'Malley signed into law bills about sex offenders and gang members, he also signed the following bills connected to Washington County and its delegation (with sponsors' names in parentheses). This was the second of three scheduled bill-signing days. o A Correctional Officers' Bill of Rights outlining officers' rights and procedures when officers are investigated or disciplined (Sen. Donald F. Munson) o The state public defender will serve a six-year term instead of at the pleasure of the office's board of trustees (Sen.

Image isn't everything - tone matters, too. There are times for soapboxes and times for restraint. We have been critical of the Washington County legislative delegation in the past for seeming to pick a fight with the Democratic leadership in Annapolis on every issue and at every turn. Whether or not the leadership deserved the scoldings is beside the point. The cold fact is that constant thorns in the side are repaid in kind. That said, we believe the delegation deserves credit for its collective reaction to Gov. Martin O'Malley's state budget presentation.

Four state bills sponsored by members of the Washington County delegation were signed into law in Annapolis on Tuesday, including: A bill sponsored by Sen. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, requiring each county board of education to establish a policy on administering auto-injectable epinephrine to certain students. Del. LeRoy E. Myers Jr., R-Washington/Allegany, had cross-filed the bill in the House. A bill sponsored by Shank in the Senate and Del. Michael J. Hough, R-Frederick/Washington, in the House requiring the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to establish a program of earned compliance credits, reducing the period of active probation or parole supervision.

Participants abandoned the traditional question-and-answer format Thursday for more casual chats at the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce’s annual pre-legislative forum. Five members of Washington County’s 2011 state delegation to the General Assembly attended the morning session at Hager Hall Conference & Event Center. Each lawmaker sat at a different table, with six to 10 other people. That led to small, more individual discussions — a break from the chamber’s normal format of a moderator asking questions of a panel.

Del. John P. Donoghue, D-Washington, sent a text message Tuesday to a Republican legislator from Washington County, accusing him of meddling in his district. Donoghue sent the text message at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday to Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington, the chair of the county's legislative delegation. He copied the message to Del. LeRoy Myers, R-Allegany/Washington, a reporter and to some other phone numbers. In the text message, with the salutation “Hi Andy,” Donoghue wrote that he was “well aware of your efforts behind my back.

For the first time in years, Washington County's state delegation is declining an invitation to headline a chamber of commerce breakfast forum recapping the legislative session. Del. Andrew A. Serafini, the delegation chairman, said lawmakers will stick with another approach this year: a free event held in the evening. The Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce annually holds morning forums with the delegation before and after each Maryland General Assembly session.

ANNAPOLIS - Bond bills will be the topic of discussion for Washington County legislators during a delegation meeting this morning. The bills include funding requests by the YMCA, the Police Athletic League, Washington County Rural Heritage Transporation Museum and Discovery Station. Two issues tabled from last week - requests from county officials for authority to give exemptions from the county's excise tax to developers and to issue civil citations for county code violations - likely will remain tabled while more information is being gathered, according to delegation Chairman Christopher B. Shank.

Del. LeRoy E. Myers, R-Washington/Allegany, announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2014, ending a run as a state legislator that began with an upset victory in 2002 over longtime House Speaker Casper R. Taylor, a Western Maryland Democratic heavyweight. Myers, who is 61, is getting ready for a second act in politics. “You can expect an announcement in September,” Myers said, adding that he was looking at several options.

Washington County lawmakers are hosting a public forum Thursday evening to discuss the 2013 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly and answer queries from residents. The post-legislative forum, which is being held at Hagerstown Community College, gives constituents a chance to question county lawmakers. “This is our chance to have an open and transparent government so that citizens of the county who have questions can ask them,” said Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington, chairman of the Washington County delegation.

A Republican Washington County delegate, with help from Democrats, is mounting a challenge to the repeal of the death penalty, a measure that was signed into law by Gov. Martin O'Malley earlier this week. Neil C. Parrott, R-Washington, announced the start of a petition drive at a press conference in Baltimore on Friday. With him were Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger, a Democrat, and Sen. James Brochin, D-Baltimore County. “Life is extremely precious ... but, for example, if someone does something like the attack on the Boston marathon, they deserve the death penalty,” Parrott said, noting that the press conference was held not far from the finishing line of the Baltimore Marathon.

Washington County's state legislators said that the 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly was a productive one for the county, with many delegation bills being approved. The county also got a $1.55 million share of a wealth-based grant called the disparity grant for fiscal year 2014. Getting the grant money was one of the top priorities for the delegation during the session, which ended earlier this month. The disparity grant money comes to the county through the budget process, with delegation members trying various strategies to ensure money for the county.

Minutes after the Maryland General Assembly adjourned for the final time in 2013 last week, two Washington County delegates headed out the door, even as many of their colleagues readied for the late-night parties in Annapolis that typically follow the end of the session. Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington, and Del. LeRoy E. Myers, R-Washington/Allegany, said they were eager to get back home, and also keen to get away from the State House. A few days later, Myers seemed more upbeat as he tended to business at Myers Building Systems, a Clear Spring-based general contracting firm that he owns.

A bill that would allow Sunday sales of beer and wine to begin at 10 a.m. died Wednesday in the House of Delegates, according to the legislation's lead sponsor. Wednesday was the deadline for bills that originated in the House and Senate to pass out of their respective chambers. “I'm very sorry about it,” Del. Stephen Skinner, D-Jefferson, said of House Bill 2946. “I'm not going to stop fighting for it.” Current state law now only allows alcohol sales on Sunday to begin after 1 p.m. Advocates of the legislation included the owners of the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, W.Va., where patrons cannot order a glass of champagne or other alcoholic beverage with their Sunday brunch until the dining part is more than halfway through.

The state's Capital Budget bill cleared a crucial step in the House of Delegates on Wednesday when it passed a second reading, and tucked away in it was a provision setting aside $85,000 for the Antietam Fire Company in Hagerstown. The Capital Budget bill, however, did not include any money for the demolition of the former Municipal Electric Light Plant in Hagerstown. Del. John P. Donoghue, D-Washington, who had asked for the fire company money through a bond bill to fund renovations and repairs to the Antietam Fire Company's firehouse, said the money would help Hagerstown residents.

A Washington County delegation bill proposed by Del. Neil C. Parrott that would alter electioneering boundaries to 50 feet from the entrance and exit of a polling station from the current 100 feet has been withdrawn after opposition from the Washington County Board of Elections. Parrott, R-Washington, feels that changing the restriction would help provide more information to voters at some polling stations. Washington County Election Director Kaye Robucci said the 100-foot limit works well and lets a voter interact with campaigners only if they choose to do so. “We have reasons why we think lesser is better,” Parrott said.

Jefferson County Democrat Stephen Skinner was one of only four members of the West Virginia House of Delegates - all Democrats - who voted against a bill calling for the repeal of local gun control laws. The bill passed the House 94-4 with two members absent. Democrats siding with Skinner in opposition were three delegates who represent the city of Charleston, W.Va. Gun control laws in Martinsburg, W.Va., which ban guns on city-owned property, are similar to those of three other West Virginia cities the bill would affect.

No two people at the moment seem to be in agreement about how to proceed with city redevelopment, but one project does appear high on the “to do” lists of one and all - ridding the horizon of the old Hagerstown power plant. The decrepit plant, last active nearly 40 years ago, dominates the city's East End, making it difficult to envision any aesthetic progress in the neighborhood as long as it remains standing. That's why we strongly support a state grant request filed in Annapolis by Del. John Donoghue, D-Washington, which would put up $300,000 toward demolition costs.