Politics
Anne Arundel council votes down Bill 61-26 after debate over scope and amendments
The county council voted 7-0 against a disputed public-safety measure at its final meeting before the November election. Residents said the bill’s reach and a rapid series of amendments made it difficult to understand, while some urged the incoming council to revisit the policy.
The Anne Arundel County Council voted unanimously Monday night to defeat Bill 61-26, a contested public-safety measure, after hours of debate at the council’s final meeting before the November election.
The vote came as council members weighed concerns about the bill’s scope and the pace of changes made to it. Hundreds of amendments had been presented over the previous month, and residents told the council they were not confident they understood the measure’s final form.
Dave Crawford, of Severna Park, urged council members to vote no, saying the bill affected residents and businesses across the county and was too much to absorb too quickly. Another speaker questioned whether the legislation was merely a technical cleanup, pointing to a dispute involving food trucks as evidence that it could have broader policy consequences.
Some residents supported updating the county’s public-safety policy but favored delaying action. Kate Fox, of Davidsonville, said significant amendments had been made, while additional proposed changes still needed consideration. She encouraged the next council to continue that work.
The meeting was the outgoing council’s last chance to vote on pending legislation before the election. Council members Pete Smith, Shannon Leadbetter and Lisa Rodvien are not returning to their seats, and Allison Pickard is running for county executive.
The newly constituted council is scheduled to hold its first meeting Dec. 7. Bill 61-26 was defeated as amended, with no votes in favor and seven opposed.