Sykesville resident leads attempt to repeal speed camera ordinance
338 signatures needed to force issue to referendum
By Charles Schelle, cschelle@patuxent.com
Posted 3/10/10
Sykesville’s speed camera initiative may be hitting a speed bump.
Chris Martin, a resident of Boulder Court in town, told the mayor and Town Council this week that he is collecting signatures to bring the town’s recent decision to install speed cameras in school zones to a voter referendum.
“It’s not a nuts-and-bolts opposition,” said Martin at the town council’s March 8 meeting. “It’s a philosophical opposition.
“I’m kind of old-fashioned, and I really, really believe in what’s becoming the archaic American notions of freedom, liberty, privacy,” he said.
“I’m not the creepy, right-wing militia member type, but I do feel that I have an obligation to protect those rights when I feel they’re being threatened,” he said.
On Feb. 22, the mayor and council voted 5-1 to approve a speed camera ordinance that establishes three school zones in town, and authorizes speed cameras to be used in those areas.
Councilman Leo Keenan cast the dissenting vote, while Councilman Scott Sanzone was absent.
The town charter says a petition to bring an ordinance to referendum must have 15 percent of the town’s registered voters, and be within 20 days of the passing of the ordinance.
That means Martin has until 12:01 a.m., Monday, March 15, to collect 338 signatures, according to Town Manager Matt Candland, who said the town has 2,258 registered voters.
Martin told the council on March 8 that he had more than 100 signatures collected and other residents are helping him to collect signatures.
“People don’t want (the speed cameras), and we’re going to get the signatures,” Martin said.
In the number is reached, town staff would verify the signatures through tax and voter rolls, Candland said. The mayor and council could choose to either hold the referendum at a special election or at the next town election, which is in 2011.
A simple majority vote would decide the fate of the ordinance, Candland said.
Councilman Ian Shaw said he supports the ordinance, but is not opposed to the residents voting on the matter. Shaw had signed Martin’s petition, but his name was crossed off after he learn the petition stated that the undersign protested the council’s vote.
Martin said in his own informal poll showed that his fellow residents opposed the cameras and only met a handful of people who support speed cameras in town.
“I was surprised at how many people were truly mad — mad,” he emphasized.
Council members have said they either felt that residents were split, 50-50, on the issue, or that their neighbors generally supported the ordinance.
Mayor Mike Miller said the town put forth a good effort in trying to educate people since October 2009 about a chance to speak their minds about the ordinance, even having a second public hearing.
“How can people say they don’t know about it, and then if they did, where were they?” he said. “They didn’t even have to come to a public meeting. They could send me an e-mail.”
Martin said he considered protests and other measures, but found out about the appeal process last week and decided to go that route.
“It’s a wonderful way to do it, but unfortunately the appeals process only allows 20 days,” he said.
Noting Martin’s opposition to the speed camera measure, Candland asked Martin what he would suggest in its place as a means of addressing speeders — which he said is the No. 1 problem residents identify as a town issue.
“I’d be very interested in the suggestions you’d have that would help really make a dent in the speeding problem,” Candland said.
“I don’t have one,” Martin said.
Town resident Dick Buczek spoke out against the movement to repeal the ordinance, saying it’s hard to make a case that the town is “infringing on speeders’ rights.”
Meanwhile, the process of implementing the speed camera ordinance is advancing. Police Chief John Williams Jr., said he is in the process of finalizing a request for proposal for vendors for the program, and should send that out soon to receive competitive bids
Chris Martin, a resident of Boulder Court in town, told the mayor and Town Council this week that he is collecting signatures to bring the town’s recent decision to install speed cameras in school zones to a voter referendum.
“It’s not a nuts-and-bolts opposition,” said Martin at the town council’s March 8 meeting. “It’s a philosophical opposition.
“I’m kind of old-fashioned, and I really, really believe in what’s becoming the archaic American notions of freedom, liberty, privacy,” he said.
“I’m not the creepy, right-wing militia member type, but I do feel that I have an obligation to protect those rights when I feel they’re being threatened,” he said.
On Feb. 22, the mayor and council voted 5-1 to approve a speed camera ordinance that establishes three school zones in town, and authorizes speed cameras to be used in those areas.
Councilman Leo Keenan cast the dissenting vote, while Councilman Scott Sanzone was absent.
The town charter says a petition to bring an ordinance to referendum must have 15 percent of the town’s registered voters, and be within 20 days of the passing of the ordinance.
That means Martin has until 12:01 a.m., Monday, March 15, to collect 338 signatures, according to Town Manager Matt Candland, who said the town has 2,258 registered voters.
Martin told the council on March 8 that he had more than 100 signatures collected and other residents are helping him to collect signatures.
“People don’t want (the speed cameras), and we’re going to get the signatures,” Martin said.
In the number is reached, town staff would verify the signatures through tax and voter rolls, Candland said. The mayor and council could choose to either hold the referendum at a special election or at the next town election, which is in 2011.
A simple majority vote would decide the fate of the ordinance, Candland said.
Councilman Ian Shaw said he supports the ordinance, but is not opposed to the residents voting on the matter. Shaw had signed Martin’s petition, but his name was crossed off after he learn the petition stated that the undersign protested the council’s vote.
Martin said in his own informal poll showed that his fellow residents opposed the cameras and only met a handful of people who support speed cameras in town.
“I was surprised at how many people were truly mad — mad,” he emphasized.
Council members have said they either felt that residents were split, 50-50, on the issue, or that their neighbors generally supported the ordinance.
Mayor Mike Miller said the town put forth a good effort in trying to educate people since October 2009 about a chance to speak their minds about the ordinance, even having a second public hearing.
“How can people say they don’t know about it, and then if they did, where were they?” he said. “They didn’t even have to come to a public meeting. They could send me an e-mail.”
Martin said he considered protests and other measures, but found out about the appeal process last week and decided to go that route.
“It’s a wonderful way to do it, but unfortunately the appeals process only allows 20 days,” he said.
Noting Martin’s opposition to the speed camera measure, Candland asked Martin what he would suggest in its place as a means of addressing speeders — which he said is the No. 1 problem residents identify as a town issue.
“I’d be very interested in the suggestions you’d have that would help really make a dent in the speeding problem,” Candland said.
“I don’t have one,” Martin said.
Town resident Dick Buczek spoke out against the movement to repeal the ordinance, saying it’s hard to make a case that the town is “infringing on speeders’ rights.”
Meanwhile, the process of implementing the speed camera ordinance is advancing. Police Chief John Williams Jr., said he is in the process of finalizing a request for proposal for vendors for the program, and should send that out soon to receive competitive bids
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