Politics & Government
Tree Trimming Bill Angers University Park Mayor
Council also introduced the Fiscal Year 2014 budget and discussed the Cafritz development at Monday's meeting
University Park Mayor John Tabori expressed his displeasure Monday at a newly approved bill that prohibits municipalities from regulating vegetation management rules on utilities. Tabori said the Maryland Muncipal League did not do a good enough job of informing its constituents about this bill so municipalities could oppose it.
The bill's summary states its purpose is to prohibit a county or municipality "from taking specified actions that interfere with, or materially increase costs of, compliance with vegetation management standards."
"I'm incensed by the fact that the gentlemen who introduced it works for a utility," Tabori said.
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The House bill was introduced by Delegate Dereck Davis, D-Prince George's County, who is the deputy director for community relations for Prince George's County. Previously, he worked as an administrator for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and the Department of Labor, Licensing, Regulation.
The council approved town staff to research legal options to look at ways to overturn the bill. Gov. Martin O'Malley has not yet signed off on the bill.