Voters would decide thefate of the controversial plan to create a countywide police force in Carroll under a bill backed by the county?s state delegation.
If voters reject the police force and decide to expand the sheriff?s office, that would override the commissioners? decision, made in October without a public hearing.
“This gives them some time to make their case,” Sen. Larry Haines, R-District 5.
“This simply allows the folks of Carroll County to have a say,” added Sen. Allan Kittleman, R-District 9.
Commissioners held their first public hearing on the proposal Thursday morning, and nearly 100 residents turned out to roundly criticize the commissioners for making the move without hearing from voters.
“I see this as one more nail in the coffin of our freedoms,” said George Otto III, of Westminster. “We?re not smart enough to decide? It?s the commissioners? job? I don?t think so. I urge you to reverse your decision.”
Haines said the bill would be filed by Monday.
Haines, Kittleman, Sen. David Brinkley, R-District 4, and Delegate Tanya Shewell, R-District 5A, voted in favor of the referendum.
Delegates Donald Elliott, R-District 4B, and Nancy Stocksdale, R-District 5A, voted against it.
Delegate Susan Krebs, R-District 9B, was not present, but her vote cannot change the majority.
The bill still needs to pass the General Assembly, but Haines expected it to win approval easily because it affects only Carroll.
