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WELCOME The Honorable Doctor Calvin Ball was elected to represent the 2nd District in 2006 and was subsequently unanimously voted to serve as Chairperson of the Howard County Council. District 2 includes the Columbia villages of Long Reach and Oakland Mills as well as Elkridge, Ellicott City, and Jessup. For a map of district two and encompassing neighborhoods, click here. Councilman Ball is dedicated to the civic empowerment and engagement of our communities. He has developed and strengthened his partnerships within the district by reaching out to various community organizations including the Long Reach Village Board, the Oakland Mills Village Board, the Greater Elkridge Community Association (GECA), New Colony Village, Cedar Villa, Bridge Way Community Church, Celebration Church and St. John Baptist Church. As a result, a cooperative and cohesive support system can amount to positive results when dealing with our community issues and concerns. Feel free to contact my office with questions, comments, or concerns you may have at (410) 313-2001. STAY INFORMED WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HOWARD COUNTY?!? Want to know what’s happening throughout Howard County? Visit our County News and Events calendar by clicking here. E-NEWSLETTER: THE CALVIN BALL BULLETIN The District 2 E-Newsletter was introduced in November 2006 to bring my constituents current information and news happening in our community every month. Click here to register your email address and begin receiving our Newsletter. E-Newsletters 2010 July 2010 To review our archived E-newletters, please click on the appropriate link below. You will then be directed to a separate link and be able to access the desired month. FINANCIAL LITERACY One of my missions as your District Two Council Member is to bring awareness to our community for the need of financial education and empowerment. This year marked our fourth annual event where I had the distinct honor to partner with several organizations and agencies including our County Executive, Howard Community College, the Howard County Library and makingCHANGE. The Financial Literacy Fair is free to all attendees and offers something for people of all ages. Exhibitors teach about investments, retirement options, real estate and much more. Activities for children and teens/young adults were also offered to entertain the whole family. If you are interested in becoming an exhibitor in 2011, please send an email to cbball@howardcountymd.gov DISTRICT 2 THREE YEAR CONSTITUENT REPORT As the Howard County Budget Season for fiscal year 2011 has concluded, I would like to share with you our District Two successes that I have fought to have funding towards! To view a list of our short and long term budget projects that will enhance District Two and the quality of life for our residents click here DISTRICT 2 ANNUAL BUDGET HIGHLIGHT REPORT FY2011 It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the residents of District Two for the past several years. As your Council Member, I have advocated and fought for funding towards several projects that enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods. I regularly monitor how things are progressing with our district by collaborating with several organizations and communities including the Long Reach Village Board, the Oakland Mills Village Board, New Colony Village, the Greater Elkridge Community Association (GECA), Cedar Villa, Bridgeway Community Church, Celebration Church and St. John Baptist Church. By maintaining open and frequent communication, my office is able to respond to community needs when possible. To access this report, click here. REGISTER YOUR HOA My office is in the process of updating our Homeowners Association database. If you would like to register your HOA, please send an email to my office at cbball@howardcountymd.gov. Please include officer information, including names, positions, and contact numbers and/or email addresses. This allows my office to collaborate with our HOAs on community concerns and/or suggestions. would like to update the District 2 database regarding contact information for those who hold leadership positions in your HOA. Please contact me via email or phone to update our database when changes occur. Thank you. ARE YOU HAVING CABLE ISSUES? The Howard County Office of the Cable Administrator oversees the performance of cable providers in Howard County. Complaints are investigated, corrected, and reported to the Howard County Cable Advisory Committee. This committee along with the Cable Administrator advises the County Executive and the County Council on all issues related to cable providers. If you are having cable related issues, you may submit your complaint online at The Howard County Office of the Cable Administrator oversees the performance of cable providers in Howard County. Complaints are investigated, corrected, and reported to the Howard County Cable Advisory Committee. This committee along with the Cable Administrator advises the County Executive and the County Council on all issues related to cable providers. If you are having cable related issues, you may submit your complaint online by clicking here. WHO'S DIGGING IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Many of our constituents have brought to our attention issues concerning utility contractors digging in their community. Many of these contractors are sub-contractors of major utility companies. To determine the name of the contractor and the utility company they are representing, please visit Miss Utility online by clicking here. This website is very informative and frequently updated with up-to-the-minute information on each and every project involving excavation around utilities. For additional information, please call Miss Utility at(410)712-0056. GET INVOLVED PARTICIPATE IN HOWARD COUNTY GOVERNMENT Your comments are welcome as the County Council reviews legislation. Every third Monday there are public hearings scheduled for testimony to be heard on legislation introduced on the first Monday of the month .You may testify in person or simply submit your testimony by email or fax. All legislative public hearings will take place in the Board Room at the Board of Education, 10901 Route 108, Ellicott City. VOLUNTEER ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS! Howard County is well known for our active and informed residents which I proudly represent and active involvement is the first step in making positive change in our county. At this time, several of our Howard County Boards and Commissions still have vacancies. Members are a vital link between our citizens and the officials who represent them and it’s so important that we fill these positions so that they may be as effective as possible. For a list of possible vacancies including any special requirements they may have, visit Board Vacancies. To apply, submit a current resume and cover letter highlighting your interests or experiences that you believe will be beneficial to the Board or Commission to which the application is being made. Letters should be addressed to: County Executive, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043. BE S.M.A.R.T. ... TAKE PART IN OUR GOVERNMENT! Does your community experience a lot of cars speeding along your road? If so, slow down speeders with Howard County Police Department’s S.M.A.R.T Community Program. The Speed Monitoring and Awareness Radar Team (S.M.A.R.T.) provides training to residents on how to use speed enforcement equipment and collect proper data to issue warnings to neighborhood speeders. This program is restricted to residential streets with a posted speed limit of 35 m.p.h. or less. For more information and details please contact the Traffic Enforcement Section at 410-313-4750. TRANSPARENCY IN OUR GOVERNMENT! If you believe there has been an instance of fraud, waste, and/or abuse in our government, we want to hear from you! Allegations of Fraud, Waste and Abuse in Howard County Government should be submitted to the Howard County Auditor’s Office. All submittals are encrypted and password protected for security. We treat all allegations in a confidential matter and we’ll do our very best to safeguard your identity! To report an allegation, click here. If you do not wish to disclose your identity, you may remain anonymous by leaving blank those fields requesting personal information. You should be aware that remaining anonymous may preclude a thorough investigation of your allegation due to insufficient information. For more information, please email Auditor or call 410-313-2005. RECYCLE As a strong proponent of reducing our waste and promoting the use of recycled materials, we must work together to reduce our carbon footprint here in Howard County! Through our recycling initiatives, we have been able to reduce Howard County Government budgetary costs by approximately $500,000. NO MORE SORTING County Recycling Program participants may now place their recyclables out all together. Metal cans, plastic bottles, and glass bottles and jars can be combined with mixed paper and cardboard, without any need for bagging or binding the paper separately. One bin or see-through bag will be all you need for your recyclable containers, mixed paper and cardboard. Yard waste will still be placed out separately. ECYCLE ... RECYCLE YOUR ELECTRONICS! With the amount of computers, televisions and electronics making their way to the landfill, it’s becoming increasingly important to educate our residents on alternatives… eCycle! These electronics may contain lead, mercury, cadmium and other toxic materials which should be properly disposed of. They also may contain valuable metals such as gold, silver and palladium that can be recycled through special programs. These items may disposed of at the Alpha Ridge Landfill, Residents’ Convenience Area, 2350 Marriottsville Road, Monday through Saturday 8:00am to 4:00pm. Residents will be required to show their drivers licenses as proof of residence in Howard County. • Computer processors and accessories RECYCLE YOUR CELLPHONE FOR A GOOD CAUSE! Did you know you can recycle your old cellphone to help victims of domestic violence? By donating your cellphone to the Sheriff’s department, victims will have access to dial 911 in emergency situations. This donation is tax deductible and a receipt will be given for your records. For additional details, please contact the Domestic Violence Section at 410-313-3741. RESIDENTIAL BATTERY RECYCLING Have old batteries and not sure what to do with them? Many retail stores offer a customer take-back program including Home Depot, Lowe’s, My Organic Market and Radio Shack. Please click here (Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation) for additional details and participating locations. INCLEMENT WEATHER AND HOLIDAY SCHEDULE For collection information during inclement weather and holidays, click here. QUESTIONS, PROBLEMS, COMPLIMENTS OR NEED MORE INFORMATION? Contact the Trash & Recycling Action Hotline at 410-313-6444. Offices are open weekdays 8:00am to 5:00pm. Please feel free to email questions to help@howardcountyrecycles.org. PUBLIC SAFETY STREET LIGHTS REPORT STREET LIGHT OUTAGES To report out street lights you can e-mail your outages at Report Street Light Outage. By phone you can contact BG&E at 410-685-0123. To expedite repair service remember to have the specific location of the light and its pole number which is located on its metal tag. IS YOUR STREET LACKING SUFFICIENT LIGHT? If you feel your street is lacking sufficient light, the County may be able to provide you with several options. Although the County’s lighting policy only supports new installation of street lights for vehicle safety at crosswalks, intersections, curves, and midblock locations, the County can suggest new light fixture replacements to improve light distribution. If you would like to request a street light, you can contact the County Traffic Engineering office at (410) 313-2430. The office will assess the request and notify the requestor of its decision. REPORT ILLEGAL SIGNS Illegal signs can distract drivers and impair your vision while driving. You can help us by reporting illegal signs through our online form available by clicking here. Please be sure to describe the location of the illegal sign in the free-form textual area at the bottom of the form. Unsure what constitutes an illegal sign? A sign erected without first obtaining a permit and complying with all regulations in effect at the time of its construction or use. For further information on the County’s sign code, the sign permit application process, sign sizes, fees and for other answers to frequently asked questions, visit the Department of Inspections, Licenses & Permits homepage on the County’s website by clicking here or call DILP at 410-313-1830. SCHOOL VIOLENCE HOTLINE OFF-LEASH AREA FOR DOGS Summer has arrived and while our residents are out and about, here are a few important things to remember! - It is your responsibility to clean up after your dog! No one else should or will do that for you. - Dogs have different styles of play. Know your dog before you visit the park and be sensitive to other dogs and their owners. Watch your dog closely and be prepared to intervene if necessary. - Children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the Off-Leash Area. Dogs can and will play roughly and it is not safe for the children or the dog owners. For additional information about the Off-Leash Area at Worthington Park, visit the HoCoDog website. We are also pleased to provide a link to Animal Advocates. HOWARD COUNTY H1N1 AWARENESS H1N1 or swine flu is an illness caused by a new form of the flu virus. The virus is spreading from person-to-person just like the regular flu. Symptoms include fever and one or more of the following: Cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. People with the flu can give you the virus if they cough or sneeze near you. You can also become sick by touching something with germs on it, such as door knobs, and then touching your eyes, mouth, or nose. Unless they need urgent medical help, adults who are sick should be cared for at home. For more up-to-date information, click here. LYME DISEASE AWARENESS With temperatures rising, the Health Department would like to remind citizens to protect themselves from Lyme Disease. If you like to camp, hike and work in gardens, you are susceptible to tick bites. It is important that you educate yourselves on how to take precautions to prevent tick bites. To learn more about how you can protect yourself, log on to Lyme Disease CHECK ALL SMOKE ALARMS HOWARD COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE REMINDS YOU TO CHECK ALL SMOKE ALARMS What kind of smoke alarm should I get? There are two basic types of smoke alarms. While both are equally effective, either require you to be familiar with how to work the device. Please be sure to make sure you purchase smoke detectors approved by a major testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboraties, Inc. • Photoelectric: designed to detect smoldering, slow burning fires • Ionization: designed to detect flaming, fast burning fires Where should I install my smoke alarms? One located in each room is highly recommended; however, at least one smoke alarm is needed on each floor. Since smoke rises, smoke alarms should be placed on ceilings since. If the ceiling is below an uninsulated attic or in a mobile home, alarms should be mounted on the wall six inches below the ceiling. How should I maintain my smoke alarm? • Replace batteries every six months and/or when a "chirping" sound is heard. • Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. • Test and clean your smoke alarm monthly. • It is advisable to vacuum your smoke detector twice a year to remove any cooking grease or dust. • Do not remove smoke alarm batteries in nuissance situations or borrow batteries for other devices. Consider buying smoke alarms with a "hush" feature instead. LEGISLATION AND TESTIMONY Listed below are details on legislation that I have sponsored and co-sponsored throughout my term as your District Two Council Member. In addition, I have had the pleasure to offer my thoughts and comments on legislation that has been introduced before our State Legislature and Congress. Legislation currently under review by the Council can be accessed online by clicking here. To review archived legislation that I have either sponsored or co-sponsored, please click on the appropriate link below for the desired year. You will then be directed to a separate link and be able to access the desired month. LEGISLATION Legislation currently under review by the Council can be accessed online by clicking here. To review archived legislation that I have either sponsored or co-sponsored, please click on the appropriate link below for the desired year. You will then be directed to a separate link and be able to access the desired month. 2010 Specifies the minimum size of certain buildings to which the Howard County Green Buildings Law applies in Downtown Columbia. Amends the Howard County Code to require that the Design Advisory Panel review and provide advice on Downtown Columbia Revitalization. TESTIMONY TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY For a synopsis of the House or Senate Bill to which I submitted testimony for, please click on the Bill number below. HB1089(2007) Authorizing a limited beer-tasting license. Click here to read my testimony. To create a course in financial literacy in our educational system. Click here to read my testimony. To create a task force to evaluate and recommend ways to improve financial literacy among our citizens. Click here to read my testimony. HB764, SB264, HB0335 and SB1030 (2010) To create a course in financial literacy as a high school graduation requirement by the State Board of Education. Click here to read my testimony. Requiring lenders to perform a loan modification review before filing for foreclosure and permitting homeowners to request mediation with the lender in an attempt to contest a denial of loan modification. Click here to read my testimony. USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS Listed below is contact information on resources available to our residents in Howard County.
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