WESTMINSTER — Members of the Board of County Commissioners say that they did not know the county's director of planning viewed a closed-door briefing with them last month as a "heads-up" that the county's four-year Pathways comprehensive master plan process would be stopped.

"Bottom line — no," said Commissioner Julia Gouge.

After the Oct. 20 briefing — in which commissioners Gouge, Dean Minnich and Michael Zimmer discussed Pathways — Director of Planning Steve Horn addressed the matter with members of the county's Planning and Zoning Commission, and later that day the planning commission voted to kill Pathways.

Pathways, which had been in the works since 2005, was envisioned as a comprehensive update of county lane-use, transportation, public facilities and other county needs.

The county had spent $581,258 on the plan since fiscal 2005, according to Vivian Laxton, public information administrator — not including staff's time during normal working hours — and had budgeted a total of $900,800 to complete the plan.

Horn acknowledged he brought the idea of ending Pathways to planning commission Chairman David Brauning, and called it, "a recommendation from the secretary of planning and Department of Planning to the Planning Commission."

He said he wasn't directed or pressured by the County Commissioners or Steve Powell, Carroll County's chief of staff, to halt the plan.

He said after that session that he felt the commissioners were aware Pathways would end.

The commissioners "were indicating that I would have to have conversations with the commission for them," he said. "It wasn't news for them."

A Monday, Oct. 19, e-mail between Horn and Powell, obtained through a Public Information Act request by The Eagle, indicates Horn had thoughts about ending Pathways and was unsure if it could be stopped.

"My challenge will be in redirecting the (Planning and Zoning Commission) and in determining what is needed under state law," he wrote. "The (commission) may be reluctant to reverse course."

Horn also wrote in the e-mail that the work session with the commissioners would "help me decide how best to deal with next week('s) sessions with the (planning commission) — to suspend further Pathways Plan efforts."

Powell said in a telephone interview that he directed that Horn brief the commissioners, and that's exactly what happened. He said he did not recall Horn's e-mail at the time of the briefing.

"I didn't recall the e-mail until it was pointed out to me that it was sent," he said.

Powell also said he has not spoken to Horn about the commission's decision.

Closed briefing

According to the commissioners, neither Powell or Horn relayed thoughts about Pathways' demise to them.

Horn, Powell and County Attorney Kim Millender attended the Oct. 22 closed session with commissioners, which Horn described as an "informational" meeting.

Horn said that based on the meeting, the commissioners should not have been surprised of the Planning and Zoning Commission's announcement later that day to end work on Pathways.

"Right. Exactly," Horn said.

Commissioners, though, said it was news to them.

Minnich said he even commented on specific aspects of Pathways at the meeting — telling Horn that he didn't like having the office park and employment zoning provisions removed from the plan.

He said he was surprised when he saw the news later that day, and he did not think the briefing was one in which Horn would essentially decide if Pathways should end.

Gouge said she expressed concerns about lack of measures to grow the county's industrial base, as well as how long the processes would take, and if another public hearing would be needed.

"I had concerns about what we were going to be left with," she said.

Zimmer said he didn't share his views on Pathways at the meeting because he believed it was inappropriate.

"I personally felt like the planning commission was doing their job," he said.

But Gouge and Zimmer said they were "shocked" and "surprised" by the planning commission decision.

Unlike briefings on the county budget process and other topics, the Oct. 22 Pathways briefing never came before the public's eyes and ears.

The Maryland Open Meetings Act provides 14 reasons — plus administrative/executive functions — that allow for a closed government meeting.

This work session would qualify because of its administrative nature, and Gouge said there was nothing clandestine about it.

"I think everything was innocently done," she said.

Behind the scenes

The move to end Pathways came later that day after a break between the planning commission's morning and evening sessions.

Horn said he first talked to Brauning to see if the measure would have support, then attempted to talk to each commission member before the meeting to let them know about the anticipated action.

Brauning, Horn said, "agreed with my assessment and observations, and he decided it was something to support."

Brauning asked Horn to prepare talking points, but said he did not influence other commission members.

Commission members Wayne Schuster, Robert Slade and Dennis Wertz said that Horn told them of the motion.

Commission member Alec Yeo also said he was approached, but said he did not feel pressured.

Commission member Charles Chadwick did not return messages seeking comment for this story.

Slade said he got the impression from Horn that he, "didn't think Pathways was going to go anywhere."

Commission member Melvin Baile Jr. said he did not talk to Horn during the break because he used the time to run errands.

When he came back and Brauning made his motion to end Pathways, "I was sitting there in shock," Baile said.

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